In late 2019, after successfully passing the Legislative Council with broad cross-party support, a comprehensive bill to decriminalise sex work in South Australia was defeated at the Second Reading in the House of Assembly. Despite members acknowledging the “desperate need for sex work law reform in SA”, many declined the opportunity to debate this internationally supported legislation. This decision left sex workers without access to their rights.
In February 2020, Tammy Franks MLC introduced the Repeal of Sex Work Offences bill. The purpose of this bill is to remove mentions of sex work from the criminal code. These offences are archaic and must be modernised to protect the rights of sex workers in South Australia. In March 2021, a Select Committee on the bill was formed to review the bill. You can find out more about the Select Committee here.