Page 3168 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 18 November 1992
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two areas will result in an undesirable accumulation of brothels in those areas. But for the purposes of establishing the new regime we believe that a policy of minimal disruption to the present pattern of business in this respect is the best approach. Indeed, there is a clear community perception that people do not want brothels to operate in suburban areas near schools, near churches, near child-care centres, and that is a perfectly understandable community concern. We have included an objects clause, clause 3, which will concisely set out the purposes of the legislation. The existing clause 3 will be unnecessary as a result of a range of technical amendments also proposed by the Government.
Madam Speaker, I believe that it is important to place the legislation in the context of the other government proposals in this area which are designed to support and complement the legislation but which are administrative in character. These matters were also outlined in the discussion paper issued earlier this year. The most important of these is the establishment of a consultative committee, made up of industry representatives, community representatives and government officials, which will monitor the establishment of the new scheme for the industry and advise the Government, through my department, on relevant issues.
I also indicate that I would be keen to keep the dialogue that has been operating across the chamber on this issue as we develop this monitoring regime. This initiative has been welcomed by all sections of the industry and we look forward to hearing from the committee on some of the issues identified in the discussion paper as issues which it might address. Other changes will flow from the removal of the taint of illegality from the industry. Workers and operators will have access to the justice system and to proper insurance and financial arrangements in respect of matters arising from prostitution, and the industry will come under occupational health and safety legislation.
Madam Speaker, I wish to conclude by congratulating Mr Moore for the work of his committee, represented by the original Bills before us today; by reiterating the Government's support for the Bills in their general terms; and by saying that our amendments are put forward in a constructive spirit to make what we are convinced will be improvements to the legislation on the basis of legal and policy advice from the Government Service and of comments from the community. I confidently expect that the process by which we have carried this, by way of discussion with the relevant opposition spokesperson and Mr Moore, who has primary carriage of the Bill, will result in prostitution legislation in Canberra which will be seen as a model for the rest of the community.
There have been moves in relation to this industry in other States. Victoria has adopted a highly regulatory licensing model which is now seen by virtually all commentators to have failed; to encourage, in effect, a dual system of legal brothels and an underground system of illegal brothels, and to have not addressed the overwhelming public health concerns. Some other States have moved to a broad deregulatory approach. The concern with that approach is that it does not address the public health issues. I believe that the consensus approach which is represented by the original Bill, the government amendments in the discussion paper, and the subsequent modification of those amendments as a result of round table discussions, will give this Territory legislation in this contentious area which will be seen as a model for the rest of the country. Perhaps it will be seen as a model for the rest of the country in reaching agreement on this contentious area of social policy.
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