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Western Australia - Prostitution
Saltshakers
Media Release:
October 2007
The Western Australian government is proposing the legalisation of brothels in Western Australia.
A Bill has now been introduced into the Parliament called the "Prostitution Amendment Bill 2007".
The Bill is available on the internet at http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/bills.nsf/BillProgressPopup?open
Form&ParentUNID=6C025665A6543C9FC82573460019CB31
Committee opposing the legislation
A Coalition of concerned community groups and NGOs has been set up to oppose this law - called the "Prostitution Law Amendment Working Committee".
Last week they brought Gunilla Ekberg to WA to speak against the proposed legalisation.
Gunilla is "a Canadian-Swedish lawyer and international expert on human rights, gender equality and violence against women. Gunilla is now based in Brussels and formerly was the special advisor to the Swedish government on human trafficking."
In Sweden they have criminalised the USERS of brothels and introduced stiff penalties for trafficking women - instead of legalising brothels. This has dramatically cut the amount of prostitution in Sweden.
A public meeting was held last week in WA - see details at
http://www.nd.edu.au/downloads/news/events/ProstitutionLeaflet07.pdf
The event does not seem to be reported in the press - but this article outlines the position in Sweden... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3168788.stm
The Committee organised a petition which is being presented to the parliament this week.
The petition said "We the undersigned residents of Western Australia are opposed to the exploitation of women, men, girls and boys. Your petitioners therefore respectfully request that the Legislative Council oppose the commercial sexual exploitation of women, men, girls and boys as proposed through the legalisation of brothels which the Prostitution Amendment Bill 2007 proposes, because prostitution is a form of violence against women, men, girls and boys and a violation of the international human rights instruments ratified by the Australian people".
ACTION: If you live in Western Australia, it is vital that you contact your Members of Parliament NOW!
Please ask all your friends and churches to contact their MPs as well.
First, contact your Legislative Council Members.
You have FIVE or SEVEN Members in the Legislative Council and ONE in the Legislative Assembly.
Link for ALL Members:
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Members+-+Current
Legislative Council Members are marked 'MLC'.
By electorate:
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Members+-+Electorate
To find out your electorate - go to http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/frames.asp?section=info&content=checkForm.asp
Please ask your MPs NOT to legalise brothels in WA because they exploit women and men.
Then also contact your Legislative Assembly Member.
Also contact the leaders of the Parties, particularly the Leader of the Opposition - Hon Paul Omodei.
Email: paul.omodei@mp.wa.gov.au - Phone: 08 9222 7351
P Stokes
Co Founder & Executive Officer
Salt Shakers Inc
Ph: 03 9800 2855
Mb: 0413 084 145
Web: www.saltshakers.org.au
SALT
SHAKERS is a 'Christian Ethics
- Research, Education and
Action Group' We are ON THE
WEB AT www.saltshakers.org.au
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