Page 1562 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991
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Firstly, I express my thanks to the other two committee members, Michael Moore and Bill Wood, and to the committee office, in particular Ron Owens for his tireless efforts, especially over the last week, in ensuring that this report was tabled today. I am sure, Mr Speaker, that the minutes tell the story. There were many hours of debate, especially during the consideration of the report. Also, I would like to place on record my thanks to all who assisted us during our inquiry, both here in the ACT and interstate.
Mr Speaker, as I stated in my additional comments, through my membership of this committee I encountered a very different side of human nature than I had originally anticipated. Throughout the inquiry and during consideration of the report my major concern was for public health. Any moral judgment could only be viewed in that health context.
Mr Speaker, I neither condone nor condemn prostitution. However, I believe that in recommending law reform those involved in the industry, including brothel owners, workers and clients, should be able to adopt a lifestyle of prostitution, if that is the lifestyle they so choose, without harassment. I would like to read into the record part of what is said at paragraph 12.4 in the report because I think it is really quite important. I quote:
... for as long as society remains sexist in its orientation, for as long as women remain portrayed as saleable objects, for as long as men continue to have the financial dominance to buy their sexual release, then for so long will prostitution remain a part of our society.
It is in that context that we have looked at law reform. There is no way that prostitution will not remain part of this society; it has certainly been around for some 2,000 years. I think it is time that we looked at it and made sure that in recommending reform we make it a situation whereby those people who have that involvement do so without harassment.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the difficulties, as Mr Moore has done, in relation to the police. They have had to operate, I believe, in very difficult circumstances in relation to the prostitution industry in more recent years, and they certainly have done an excellent job here in the ACT.
In the early sections of the report details are given in relation to current laws, both in the Territory and around Australia, and I will not comment further on those. The report then considers in some detail the relationship between HIV and prostitution - and that potential is certainly still there - and illegal drugs and prostitution. While little evidence came before the committee in relation
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