“Scarlet Alliance welcomes the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 review recommendations. Recognition that a funded sex worker organisation is desperately needed in Tasmania is supported by our own findings and previous government reports. Targeted resources on legal rights and responsibilities are also very important.” Alina Thomas, Scarlet Alliance said today.
Scarlet Alliance is currently funded to provide an interim small scale project to bridge a gap as Tasmania, the only state in Australia not providing outreach education services and resources to sex workers, catches up.
However, the group warns, “If laws are to change in Tasmania sex workers hold the key to identifying new approaches to improve their workplaces and work options." Alina Thomas said. “As key stakeholders sex workers needs should outweigh the opinion of other interested parties as it is sex workers work and personal lives that are directly affected by sex industry laws.”
“While I recognise the need for other stakeholders to be consulted, we must not allow their opinion to overshadow what sex workers themselves need to support best practice occupational health and safety.” Janelle Fawkes added. “The challenge is for government to juggle moral and religious views when it is the key stakeholders, sex workers, that hold the key to effective sex industry regulation.”