State by State Laws in Australia

Most sex industry laws in Australia are determined by State and Territory Governments. Federal laws criminalise 'trafficking' (with or without consent) and 'sex slavery' (regardless of sex workers' consent to such work conditions). ACT, WA, Tasmania, South Australia and NSW are all currently reviewing their sex work laws. Qld and Victoria are currently going through legislative changes.

Australian Capital Territory - ACT Prostutition Act 1992. SUBMISSIONS TO THEIR REVIEW DUE BY FEB 28 2011 more...

New South Wales - Decriminalised. ELECTION IN 2011 WITH LIBERALS PROPOSING LICENSING & BROTHEL POLICE protests and lobbying underway more...

Northern Territory - Licensed under the Northern Territory Prostitution Regulation Act more...

Queensland - CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW Licensed by the Prostitution Act (Ammended 2001, 2006 & 2009) more...

South Australia LAW REFORM ON NOW - Criminalised under the Summary Offences Act 1953 and the Criminal Law Consolidation Act (1935 - 1976) more...

Tasmania - LAWS REFORM REVIEW CONCLUDING, JUNE 2010 Private legal, brothels ciminalised under Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 more...

Victoria - RECOMMENDATIONS TO CRIMINALISE CLIENTS Licensed under the Prostitution Control Act 1994 and Prostitution Control Regulations 1995 more...

Western Australia - LAWS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED WITH GREEN BILL EXPECTED SOON more...

Federal Laws - LAWS PASSED IN 2005 Migration of sex workers is criminalised in the Criminal Code (Trafficking in Persons Amendment 2005 & Sexual Slavery Amendment 1999)more...

Link to database of HIV laws across Asia. The data base is run by Asia Catalyst.

Public Submissions written or endorsed by Scarlet Alliance

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to the NSW Planning Review" Nov 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submission on the Western Australian Prostitution Bill 2011" July 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety’s inquiry into the ACT Prostitution Act 1992" Feb 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to the The Criminal Justice Response to Slavery and People Trafficking; Reparation; and Vulnerable Witness Protections" Feb 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submissions into forced and servile marriage in Australia" Feb 2011

Touching Base "Submission to Marrickville Council" Feb 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to Minister Christian Porter Sex Industry Law Reform Western Australia" January 2011

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to the 2011 CMC Inquiry into Sex Work in Queensland" January 2011

Scarlet Alliance and Nothing About Us Without Us "Submission on Sex Industry Regulation in NSW" September, 2010

Scarlet Alliance "Submission to Tasmanian Attorney General" June 2010

Response to Victorian Recommendations on trafficking for sex work August 2009, endorsed by 18 influencial sex worker groups, researchers and supporters

Submission to "Simpler visas; Creating a simpler framework for temporary and permanent entry to Australia" June 2010

Submission to Stephen Howells, "Review of Employer Sanctions Legislation – Combating Illegal Work in Australia" June 2010

Submission to the Victorian Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee Oct 2009

SUBMISSION TO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BETTER REGULATION OFFICE NSW: PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMPETITION THROUGH THE PLANNING SYSTEM June 2009

National Human Rights Consultation Submission by VIXEN (Scarlet Alliance member) June 2009

National Human Rights Consultation Submission by Scarlet Alliance June 2009

NSW Planning Minister and Attorney General consider Sex Work Advertising June 2009

Consumer Affairs Victoria Review of Sex Work Regulations June 2009

Senate Committee on Mens Health February 2009

Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission Review into Police Move On Powers February 2009

Tasmanian Sex Industry Act Review November 2008

Review of Queensland Services and HTML version of submission, May 2008

US State Department Trafficking In Persons Report January 2008

The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board discusses approach to HIV and Sex Work June 07

Western Australian Parliamentary Committee considers law reform October 06

Queensland PLA Regulatory Impact Statement May 06

Consumer Affairs Victoria releases for comment their Regulatory Impact Statement March 06

New Zealand Parliament inquiry into street based sex work March 06

Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission ongoing inquiry into escort services Jan 06

Consumer Affairs Victoria review of the Prostitution Control Regulations August 05

Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission inquiry into escort services April 2005

Northern Territory Racing and Gaming inquiry into the Prostitution Regulation Act March 2005

Federal AG consultation on the Draft Criminal Code Amendment (Trafficking In Persons) Bill Oct 2004

Consumer Affairs Victoria review of Fees Regulations for licensed brothels June 2004

Tasmanian Sex Industry Regulation Bill Consultation March 2004

Parliamentary Joint Committee inquiry into Trafficking in Women & Sexual Servitude 26 Sep 2003

Western Australia consultation on the Prostitution Control Green Bill Feb 2003

updated 15 Nov 2011