A throng of individuals converged upon Brisbane's CBD, demanding urgent action from the Queensland government to decriminalise sex work, castigating the administration for its inaction as the year draws to a close.
Despite prior intentions to introduce legislation this year, the government's promises remain unfulfilled, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk citing Labor's emphasis on "cost-of-living relief" today, pushing the issue of sex work legislation to the sidelines.
The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) joined forces with sex workers in a rally outside the state government's executive building, condemning the outdated 1999 Prostitution Act and the government's inertia in addressing it.
Earlier commitments made by the state government to dismantle the licensing system and decriminalise sex work, following recommendations from the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC), have yet to materialize into action.
Elle Coles, a transgender sex worker present at the protest, voiced concerns that the current laws fail to safeguard her and others in the industry. "The framework currently alienates 90 per cent of the sex work industry and makes our work a lot more dangerous," Coles expressed to the ABC, highlighting the shortcomings of the existing legislation.
The scope of licensed sex work under current laws is restricted to brothels and solo sex work, a limitation seen as archaic and perilous by industry insiders like Coles. "I'm appalled that in 2023 these draconian, outdated, and stigmatized laws are actively targeted at sex workers," she remarked, underscoring the urgency for change.
Jacqueline King, the general secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, criticized the government's lack of explanation for the delay, branding it a "failure of leadership." King demanded swift action, urging government officials, including the premier and attorney-general, to rally behind the cause and introduce the much-awaited bill immediately after the new year commences.
Responding to the mounting pressure, Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath emphasized the government's commitment to progressing the decriminalisation of sex work in Queensland. However, this assurance came amidst discontent as the government had introduced "significant" legislation in recent weeks, but the sex work bill remained pending.
Amidst the ongoing governmental inertia, voices from within the industry, like Raven Inferno, a seven-year veteran, expressed frustration, highlighting the lack of recourse for basic workplace issues. Workers find themselves unable to seek help even from bodies like FairWork, painting a dire picture of the systemic hurdles sex workers encounter in Queensland.
The palpable frustration and growing impatience among sex workers, their advocates, and union representatives paint a stark portrait of the Queensland government's apparent apathy toward urgently needed reforms. As promises linger unfulfilled, the clamor for immediate action grows louder, casting shadows on the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and safety of Queensland's sex work community.