Independent Queensland Escorts

In a significant step towards improving the safety and rights of sex workers, the Queensland government has introduced legislation to decriminalize sex work. The proposed laws aim to repeal outdated regulations that have hindered the industry's ability to operate safely and legally.

Under current legislation, sex workers face numerous restrictions, including prohibitions on working together or hiring security. The new laws would eliminate these barriers, allowing workers to implement safety measures that are currently criminalized.

Advocates have long criticized Queensland's sex work laws as outdated and harmful. The strict regulations, a legacy of the 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry, have forced many sex workers to operate outside the law, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

The proposed reforms are expected to bring Queensland in line with other states, such as Victoria, that have already decriminalized sex work. While some, like the Australian Christian Lobby, oppose the changes, supporters argue that decriminalization is a crucial step towards protecting sex workers and ensuring a safer industry.

Queensland's parliament has passed landmark legislation decriminalizing sex work in the state after years of advocacy. However, there are concerns that the reform could be reversed if the Liberal National opposition wins the upcoming election, as the party voted against the bill.

Opposition from One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party was also noted. Attorney General Yvette D’Ath, who sponsored the bill, highlighted that "discrimination and stigma" were widespread as about 90% of sex workers had to operate outside the law. A parliamentary committee found that sex workers faced unwanted advances, aggression, discrimination, and stigma.

Prior to the reforms, sex workers could only operate as sole traders or in one of fewer than two dozen licensed brothels in the state. Labor, Greens, and independent members voted to pass the bill, watched by numerous sex workers.

Respect Inc state coordinator Lulu Holiday described working under the former laws as "stressful" and "traumatic." She noted that many had been criminalized, charged, threatened with deportation, and harassed by police.

The new law treats sex work like any other business, with planning, health, and safety regulations. Shadow attorney general Tim Nicholls expressed concerns about the impact of the new law on neighbors and urged consideration of the Nordic model, which penalizes clients but not workers.

Labor MP Chris Whiting countered that the Nordic model is not being considered elsewhere in Australia. Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King warned that the LNP would face united opposition from unions and the sex work industry if they sought to recriminalize sex work.

Scarlet Alliance CEO Mish Pony praised the legislation for introducing anti-discrimination protections for sex workers. These protections help counter stigma and improve access to health services, housing, and mental health support.

Proposed legislation introduced to parliament by the Queensland state government today aims to decriminalize sex work, with a focus on enhancing the health, safety, and rights of workers in the industry.

Currently, sole operator sex workers are prohibited from collaborating with each other under the same roof or within the same business, and they are unable to hire individuals for personal security.

The proposed reforms seek to abolish existing criminal offenses associated with sex work while establishing new measures to safeguard sex workers and bolster their protection against unjust discrimination.

These reforms would permit workers to employ safety strategies that are presently considered illegal.

Previously labeled as "draconian and outdated" by advocates, Queensland's sex worker laws are now undergoing a significant transformation with these proposed changes.

A throng of individuals converged upon Brisbane's CBD, demanding urgent action from the Queensland government to decriminalise sex work, castigating the administration for its inaction as the year draws to a close.

Despite prior intentions to introduce legislation this year, the government's promises remain unfulfilled, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk citing Labor's emphasis on "cost-of-living relief" today, pushing the issue of sex work legislation to the sidelines.

The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) joined forces with sex workers in a rally outside the state government's executive building, condemning the outdated 1999 Prostitution Act and the government's inertia in addressing it.

Earlier commitments made by the state government to dismantle the licensing system and decriminalise sex work, following recommendations from the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC), have yet to materialize into action.

Elle Coles, a transgender sex worker present at the protest, voiced concerns that the current laws fail to safeguard her and others in the industry. "The framework currently alienates 90 per cent of the sex work industry and makes our work a lot more dangerous," Coles expressed to the ABC, highlighting the shortcomings of the existing legislation.

The scope of licensed sex work under current laws is restricted to brothels and solo sex work, a limitation seen as archaic and perilous by industry insiders like Coles. "I'm appalled that in 2023 these draconian, outdated, and stigmatized laws are actively targeted at sex workers," she remarked, underscoring the urgency for change.

Jacqueline King, the general secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, criticized the government's lack of explanation for the delay, branding it a "failure of leadership." King demanded swift action, urging government officials, including the premier and attorney-general, to rally behind the cause and introduce the much-awaited bill immediately after the new year commences.

Responding to the mounting pressure, Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath emphasized the government's commitment to progressing the decriminalisation of sex work in Queensland. However, this assurance came amidst discontent as the government had introduced "significant" legislation in recent weeks, but the sex work bill remained pending.

Amidst the ongoing governmental inertia, voices from within the industry, like Raven Inferno, a seven-year veteran, expressed frustration, highlighting the lack of recourse for basic workplace issues. Workers find themselves unable to seek help even from bodies like FairWork, painting a dire picture of the systemic hurdles sex workers encounter in Queensland.

The palpable frustration and growing impatience among sex workers, their advocates, and union representatives paint a stark portrait of the Queensland government's apparent apathy toward urgently needed reforms. As promises linger unfulfilled, the clamor for immediate action grows louder, casting shadows on the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and safety of Queensland's sex work community.

Alright, mate, check this out! There's this sheila, right, reckon she's fair dinkum furious! Found out her old man went on a ripper of a spree at this brothel, yeah? Seven hours, mate! Seven hours of fun down in Gold Coast, shelling out six grand, can ya believe it?

Bloke paid cash for the first hour with two birds, not wanting the missus to suss it. But nah, that wasn't enough, cobber! He tried a bank transfer to extend the fun, but no dice. Ended up chucking it on the credit card, he did. And it went on and on 'til the ladies said, "That's enough, mate, we're bushed!"

So, the missus goes ballistic when she finds out about this four-grand shindig. Marches the ol' fella back there, claiming he was blind drunk or on the gear and didn't remember a thing.

But guess what? The brothel’s got CCTV, shows him fair as day, haggling for a "sweet deal." They reckon he wasn't off his face 'cause he wouldn't have scored such a corker deal, yeah?

Now the missus is spitting chips, threatening to do a protest outside! The manager's like, "Sure, mate, you can protest, but keep it peaceful, or we'll have to dial the cops."

Manager's having none of it, saying they run a fair dinkum legit business, not their issue if the ol' bloke splashed the cash. She's saying, "Look, love, if you're cranky about the dosh, sort it out with your bloke, not us! It's not like blaming the casino for your hubby's gambling spree, right?"

And get this, cobber, in Queensland, where this all went down, brothels gotta have a proper license from the local government to run the show. Fair dinkum, mate!

 

 

 

 

Queensland is another Australian territory which is about to decriminalize sex work. 

The QLRC also reckoned that sewing workers shouldn’t be dobbed in for spruiking or street-based sex work, and said planning rules should let services run away from industrial zones.While sewing work is under a licensing framework in Queensland, about 90% of sex workers are in the “dodgy sector” privately or at unlicensed businesses. Sex workers have long cracked the shits about the laws that stop them from hiring a receptionist, working with others or texting other sex workers before and after a booking to make sure they’re safe.The report found the current framework stuffed up the health, safety and justice of sex workers. Those interviewed said they were scared to report crimes to the cops for fear of getting nicked or not being taken seriously.The QLRC said the law should deal with “reality, not myths”. “Stereotypes about most sex workers being street workers, victims of exploitation or trafficking, or ‘germ carriers’ are not backed up by the evidence or reflected in the diversity of the sex -work industry,” the report said.

Brisbane escort and sex worker, Kim has no shortage of stories regarding the treatment of his friends in the Queensland escorting community.  Kim is a multlingual man, and is often asked to help Asian escorts with limited English,  He helps translate between workers and clients or with the police.

The large majority of escorts in Queensland  work independently rather than in the licensed Queensland brothels. Working alone they can't work ilegally in pairs.

Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman has referred the state's sex work legislation to the Queensland Law Reform Commission. She said that the "majority" of sex work in Queensland happened illegally and a proper regulatory framework was needed to keep sex workers and the community safe.

The world’s oldest profession is about to reopen in Queensland after a lengthy interruption in trade.

Queensland’s sex workers will go back to work today from noon and they’re more than ready, with many experiencing financial duress during strict coronavirus restrictions.

"I am COVID-free, safe and healthy. Sex only with condoms."

And with advertisements such as that, some Queensland sex workers flout strict physical-distancing laws by continuing to offer their in-person services.

A Queensland man who agreed to pay pregnant teen sex worker Tiffany Taylor for sex on the day she disappeared has been found guilty of her murder.

Rodney Wayne Williams, 65, picked the 16-year-old up from a Logan motel in July 2015 after meeting her on the Oasis dating website.