Page 5323 - Week 16 - Thursday, 28 November 1991
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4.
PROSTITUTION AND CASINOS
12. The Committee and the Government must be made aware that most of the same considerations apply to the question of prostitution as to the question of a casino in-Canberra. In particular, the presence of organised crime in both spheres has been well documented for decades. Indeed, there is a long .and important link between casinos and prostitution which must be carefully policed and prevented.
UNTENABLE PROPOSITIONS
13. The Statement makes a numbers generalisations which I believe to be untenable. It is not true to say the issue of the rights of all workers in the sex industry is the single most import ant.concern in any examination of the question of the reform of the prostitution laws in the Territory (par).
However important the place of every individual person may be in society, there is a corresponding and balancing
. concern, for the whole community to be considered also.
The Statement falls into the common prevailing trap that
the individuals rights are prior in every situation.
To follow this to its logical conclusion would mean anarchy.
14. Again, The Statement says (p.4) ,The majority of people do not support the enforcement of moral values by criminal penalties: This is sip-ly not true. The entire AngloAus.tralia.n. legal system: is based upon the,jurisprudence of" the western Christian tradition: The community acts to prevent tbeft,of property, defamation of a. persons name,,sexua:l or personal abuse by word ;or act, danger to life, and so on. At some times prostitution has been regarded as,a degrading form of-activity for human beings to enter into. Many would, still regard it as such. The Church.would regard it as sin.. But the church has no right to impose the standard expected of its members (who often-fail to meet them anti so are in need of Gods
forgiveness) upon the whole community.. However, the arch does ralse.,the question of what kind of community is to have. And, if a more .permissive general approach is to be taken, asks many questions about how it is to be managed.
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