- Media Releases

SWOP NSW "HEALTH ORG SAYS MORE LAWS WILL NOT MAKE SEX INDUSTRY SAFER" 11 Oct 2011

NSW’s leading health agency for sex workers says calls to introduce new regulations affecting brothel licencing and sex service provision are likely to undermine the health and safety of sex workers and their clients.

Trafficking in Australia; “Vigilante approach is wrong, Prevention is key.” Say Sex Workers

Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, in partnership with sex worker organisations in Australia and Asia, have been working on migrant sex worker rights and trafficking policy issues trans-nationally for over 22 years.

Scarlet Alliance "Scarlet Alliance Migration Project funded for another three years" 16 Sept 2011

Since the 1980's sex worker peer education in Australia, led by the peak body for sex workers Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, and its sex worker organisation membership, has worked on cross-cultural, multilingual and trans-national project-based approaches to the health and human rights of migrant sex workers in Australia, in partnership with Government. This week the Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O’Connor and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek announce the newest chapter of the community partnership.

"Sex workers, PLHIV, HIV Activists speak out: We do not need anti-human right and violence at ICAAP" 27th August 2011

There is no need for ICAAP suppressing the voice of people living with HIV/AIDS at the tench ICAAP Conference, in Pusan, South Korea, 2011. Over 80 organisations have signed this joint statement condemning the use of riot police, and the detention without charge of up to 6 activists.

APN+, ITPC, AFAO, APNSW, ACT UP-Paris, "Civil Society condemn the use of force by Korean security on peaceful demonstrators" Saturday 27th August 2011

ICAAP10: Korean activists arrested and threatened with criminal action for peaceful protest; International activists roughed up by police and security.

"CMC's claimed increase in migrant sex workers wrong" Scarlet Alliance responds to CMC Report Jun 2011

Respect Inc. have funded peer educators from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, delivering services in Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese. Scarlet Alliance supports the recommendations to improve funding for these services and projects, and supports the Crime and Misconduct Commissions' efforts to bring these issues and the needs of non-English speaking background migrant sex workers to the attention of policy makers in Queensland, but dispute their claim that there is an increase in the number of migrant sex workers.

Scarlet Alliance Letter of Support For ISGD Rights Rally, 11 May 2011

On the eve of the first ever Still Fierce rally on our capital city Canberra, Scarlet Alliance pledges support. Scarlet Alliance, the Australian Sex Workers Association, recognises that Australian Intersex, Sex & Gender Diverse (ISGD) communities are made up of people working in many industries and that sex work is one of these industries. Sex workers have long been, and continue to be, visible, active, and vocal, members of many ISGD communities.

Scarlet Alliance Media Release "Sex workers blow the whistle on Liberals political football" 22 Dec 2010

Scarlet Alliance provided a written submission to Chris Hartchers office in September, 2010 providing evidence of the failure of licensing models and the excessive expense to tax payers. The opposition is going to election with a campaign based on lies, a smokescreen to cover up the failure to implement regulation of the sex industry in NSW by some councils.

"Oldest profession remembers dangerous past before decriminalisation" 24 Nov 2010

Sex workers celebrate coming of age in the parliament house that granted bipartisan reprieve from police corruption. Sex Workers and supporters from around Australia meet to remind government that decriminalisation works. Four generations of speakers tell of life before and after decriminalisation in NSW.

3 Nov 2010 "Expert panel compares sex industry laws and recommends WA decriminalisation" Scarlet Alliance

Experts will gather on 3 November in Perth to present on the outcomes of sex work regulation internationally (New Zealand and Sweden) and from around Australia, urging the WA Government to consider the evidence from comparison of different models of regulation and learn from the outcomes of other jurisdictions and countries.

" Sex Workers Achieve MDGs 2010" 31 Aug 2010

Scarlet Alliance holds a media conferenc at the UN Department of Public Information Non-Government Organisation Conference advocating on behalf of sex workers as a community affected by HIV and traffickingg.

"NORTHERN TERRITORY SEX WORKER REGISTRATION BRANDED A MISUSE OF POLICE POWERS LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY" 14th July, 2010

For over a decade police have collected personal information on sex workers working at legal escort agencies in the Northern Territory. The information is then kept on a life-long police register. “The Prostitution Regulation Act does not require Police to collect information or to register sex workers. However this practice has been allowed to continue for many years,” said Janelle Fawkes, Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association.

SEX WORKERS DEMAND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION ON INTERNATIONAL WHORES DAY, 2nd JUNE, 2010

Sex workers in Australia will join thousands of other sex workers around the world to celebrate and commemorate the 35th anniversary of International Whores Day the 2nd June. A diverse range of events are being held around Australia over a week of celebration.

June 2010 "The House of Ill Repute – 21 years of SIN" Adelaide

An exhibition to commemorate the 21st birthday of the South Australian Sex Industry Network

Scarlet Alliance "Darwin International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers" Dec 17 2009

In Darwin there will be a gathering of speakers about law reform in the Northern Territory and a call to the new Police Commissioner to abolish registration of sex workers. A sex worker film called “Comparing Countries Compassion” will also be shown.