[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title + text: Northern Territory Sex Work Laws” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Updated July 2024<\/span><\/p>\n
This resource contains information for sex workers on sex work laws in the Northern Territory. This page and associated links are intended for informative purposes only, and should not be viewed as a definitive guide to the law.<\/span><\/p>\n
Sex work laws are different in each state and territory. This means that sex work activities that are legal in one state may not be legal in another. Sex work laws can be confusing and difficult to follow, and can compromise our safety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
If you need for information on:<\/span><\/p>\n
contact<\/span> SWOP NT<\/span><\/a> for peer advocacy, advice and support.<\/span><\/p>\n
The Territory\u2019s peer-only sex worker program is <\/span>SWOP NT<\/span><\/a>. All staff and volunteers of SWOP NT are sex workers.\u00a0<\/span> SWOP NT is a member of the Scarlet Alliance Australian Sex Workers Association, and is a peer-based and led program located within the Garramilla (Darwin) <\/span>NTAHC<\/span><\/a> office on the unceded land of the Larrakia Nation.\u00a0<\/span> SWOP NT\u2019s advocacy, health promotion, training\/workshops, outreach, and broader programming aims to improve sex workers\u2019 lives by holistically addressing issues including our human rights.<\/span> SWOP NT advocates to reduce stigma and discrimination against us as workers via <\/span>advocacy, information, resources and education sessions to health and legal sectors to <\/span>facilitate equitable access to services and to inform policy development for a safer <\/span>framework for sex workers.<\/span> The SWOP Shop can be accessed from NTAHC\u2019s Garramilla (Darwin) or Mparntwe (Alice Springs) offices for affordable safer sex supplies and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).\u00a0<\/span> Currently (August 2024), there are no SWOP NT staff employed at the Mparntwe office, but phone access to SWOP NT staff through the Mparntwe office is available. SWOP NT is able to provide outreach to Garramilla (Darwin and the wider region) regularly, and a couple of times per year to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Nitmiluk (Katherine).<\/span><\/p>\n
[\/chiac_divi_accordions_item][chiac_divi_accordions_item title=”Aboriginal languages in NT” chiac_subtitle_state=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_css_chiac_item_body_css=”padding: 20px 0px;||” global_colors_info=”{}”]More than 100 Aboriginal languages and dialects are spoken in the Northern Territory (NT)<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
NOTE: Aboriginal languages of the NT vary greatly in their grammatical structures, concepts and vocabulary. Scarlet Alliance notes that the Aboriginal language place names of major towns and cities across the Northern Territory that are commonly used for one Aboriginal people\u2019s group area may not reflect other<\/span> Aboriginal people\u2019s groups<\/span><\/a> use of language and\/or terminology for the same land.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>[\/chiac_divi_accordions_item][\/chiac_divi_accordions][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title + text: What does decrim mean for the Northern Territory?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Northern Territory was the third jurisdiction in the world to decriminalise sex work. After more than 20 years of sexworker-led activism and advocacy from SWOP NTm the Sex Worker Reference Group (SWRG) and Scarlet Alliance, and support from Unions NT and allies, the Northern Territory Labor government passed the <\/span>Sex Industry Act 2019.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
The <\/span>Sex Industry Act 2019<\/span><\/i><\/a> decriminalises sex work and sex workers in the NT. The Act lists one of its primary aims (\u2018objects\u2019) as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Decrim in the Northern Territory also involved amendments to the<\/span> NT Planning Scheme 2020<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> Northern Territory Planning Act 1999,<\/span><\/i><\/a> which with the <\/span>Sex Industry Act<\/span><\/i> became law on 12 June 2020. <\/span><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][chiac_divi_accordions admin_label=”Accordian: General info & laws ” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][chiac_divi_accordions_item title=”What is sex work?” chiac_subtitle_state=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_css_chiac_item_body_css=”padding: 20px 0px;||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The<\/span> Sex Industry Act 2019<\/span><\/i><\/a> defines <\/span>sex work<\/b> as: ‘the provision by a person of services that involve the person participating in sexual activity with another person in return for payment or reward.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n
Sex worker<\/b> means \u2018a person who performs sex work\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n
NT Worksafe<\/span><\/a> regulates sex work businesses in the Northern Territory.<\/span><\/p>\n
Both operators of sex work businesses and sex workers must \u2018take all reasonable steps to adopt and promote safe sex practices\u2019 (<\/span>Sex Industry Act 2019<\/span><\/i><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Check out <\/span>Red Book Online<\/span><\/a> for information on STI\/BBV, testing, safer sex, and harm reduction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
In many states and territories, STI and BBV may be \u2018notifiable infections\u2019. This means that diagnosed infections are confidentially reported to state or territory health departments. You can find more information on our<\/span> BBV, STI and the Law<\/span><\/a> resource.<\/span><\/p>\n
employment in sex work or engaging in sex work, including past employment in sex work or engagement in sex work (<\/span>Anti Discrimination Act 1992<\/span><\/i><\/a>, s 19(1)(ec)).<\/span><\/p>\n
In the <\/span>Anti-Discrimination Act, <\/span><\/i>sex work means:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
This means that:<\/span><\/p>\n
If you’ve experienced discrimination because of your sex work, contact <\/span>SWOP NT<\/span><\/a> for action. <\/span>[\/chiac_divi_accordions_item][chiac_divi_accordions_item title=”Non-payment for services and \u2018stealthing\u2019” chiac_subtitle_state=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_css_chiac_item_body_css=”padding: 20px 0px;||” global_colors_info=”{}”]It is <\/span>illegal<\/b> for a person to make \u201ca false representation or otherwise [act] fraudulently\u201d if\u00a0 their actions result in a person doing, or continuing to do sex work (maximum penalty 5 years imprisonment \u2013<\/span> Sex Industry Act 2019<\/span><\/i><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n
This section likely captures two types of situations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve experienced either of these situations while doing sex work in the NT, contact<\/span> SWOP NT<\/span><\/a> for support and\/or other action.<\/span>[\/chiac_divi_accordions_item][chiac_divi_accordions_item title=”Payment in ‘dangerous drugs'” chiac_subtitle_state=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_css_chiac_item_body_css=”padding: 20px 0px;||” global_colors_info=”{}”]It is illegal for a person to supply, or offer to supply, a dangerous drug in exchange for sex work services. (maximum penalty 5 years imprisonment \u2013<\/span> Sex Industry Act 2019<\/span><\/i><\/a>, sections 10 & 11). A \u2018dangerous drug,\u2019 means any drug listed in Schedules<\/span> 1<\/span><\/a> or<\/span> 2<\/span><\/a> of the<\/span> Misuse of Drugs Act 1990<\/span><\/i> (NT)<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>[\/chiac_divi_accordions_item][chiac_divi_accordions_item title=”Other sex industry offences” chiac_subtitle_state=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_css_chiac_item_body_css=”padding: 20px 0px;||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n