PLAYFORD councillors have narrowly voted to oppose the decriminalisation of sex work in South Australia, after a divisive motion was passed at the council’s September meeting.
Elected members voted 8-7 in favour of a motion from Cr Andrew Craig formally opposing a bill introduced to State Parliament by Greens Legislative Council member Tammy Franks, which would see sex work decriminalised and the industry regulated across the state.
Cr Craig’s motion cited a lack of consultation with local government and “the unsustainable burden cast on local councils by decriminalising prostitution” in New South Wales as reasons to oppose the bill, and called on parliament’s Lower House to reject it.
The Statutes Amendment (Decriminalisation of Sex Work) Bill 2018 was debated in the House of Assembly a fortnight ago after it was passed by the Legislative Council in June.
Cr Craig said he was concerned about a “proliferation of brothels” in Playford if sex work was decriminalised.
“There wasn’t any consultation with local government, we haven’t had any input as a council,” he said.
“I’m concerned about the whole idea (decriminalised prostitution) and the harm and hurt brothels can bring to the community.
“I just think prostitution is degrading and demeaning, it’s treating women like cattle in a meat market.
“That’s the sort of thing I don’t think as a society, as a community, we want to support.
“We see wherever prostitution is practiced it’s tied with drugs and allied with reprehensible behaviours.”
Playford has joined Adelaide City Council in formally rejecting the bill.
Deputy mayor Marilyn Baker, who voted against the motion, said she didn’t believe prostitution was demeaning to women.
“As far as the moral issue goes, I find it very difficult to understand why a practice between two consenting adults is considered a crime on the one hand and perfectly reasonable on the other hand,” she said.
“Local government is not the moral police, we would need to make decisions under the planning act or the development act (if the legislation was to pass).
“I’m certainly not the moral police and I don’t think anyone else should be.”