New laws dealing with prostitution introduced into State Parliament

23/11/99
Western Australia's prostitution laws are set to change for the first time in more than 100 years.
The State Government today introduced into State Parliament, new laws designed to address the very public face of prostitution - street walking and kerb crawling - particularly in Perth's inner-city areas.
The Prostitution Bill 1999 will also prohibit the involvement of children in prostitution and provides police with new, increased powers.
Police Minister Kevin Prince said the State Government had acted as quickly as possible on the pressing issue of street prostitution which had impinged on the rights and lifestyles of inner city communities.
"The time spent preparing this Bill is not a reflection on any lack of commitment by this Government to reform prostitution laws in this State," the Minister said.
"It has taken considerable effort to achieve a position on this issue which is not only acceptable to the community but enforceable.
"The Coalition Government is pleased that it is the first and only Government in more than 100 years to tackle this very difficult and sensitive community issue."
Mr Prince said the Bill would ensure that the activities of prostitutes and potential clients in public places were regulated.
The Prostitution Bill 1999 will:

• make street soliciting and kerb crawling illegal;
• empower police to issue a 'move-on' notice to persons suspected of committing or about to commit a soliciting offence for a maximum 24-hour period;
• preclude children aged under 18 years from being a prostitute and prevent their exploitation for sexual gratification;
• protect the health of the community by creating offences for the sexual transmission of life threatening and non-life threatening diseases and infections between prostitutes and clients;
• prohibit advertisements promoting the employment of prostitutes or from entering into a sponsorship arrangement that promotes prostitution; and -
• propose new police powers of search and seizure and to allow police to operate covertly in order to obtain evidence of the commission of an offence.

"In a bid to reduce the demand for streetwalkers, the new laws will propose a maximum two-year jail term for kerb crawlers," Mr Prince said.
"Research shows that many street walkers are working to support a drug habit and are therefore susceptible to exploitation. They will now face a maximum one-year jail term if convicted of street soliciting.
"The exploitation of women involved in street prostitution is addressed under these new laws as is the exploitation of children for sexual gratification, which the great majority of society finds abhorrent.

"The police will be empowered to remove any children involved in prostitution from further risk and place them in the care of an appropriate authority.
"Adults convicted of any involvement in child prostitution, whether it be inducing a child to act as a prostitute, receiving monies from a child prostitute, participating in an act of prostitution either as a prostitute or child, or allowing children to remain in a premises where acts of prostitution are carried out, face penalties of up to 14 years' imprisonment.
"In addition, police will be given new powers to deal with prostitution and the investigation of related offences.
"In relation to offences under this Act, this will include a power of entry without warrant at any time to any premises suspected or known to offer prostitution services.
"This provision will enable the timely investigation of suspected prostitution offences relating to children or health and empowers police to detain and search all persons found on the premises.
"It will also allow police to seize, retain and dispose of property found during an investigation of any offence under these laws.
"Police officers will also be allowed to operate covertly to obtain evidence of the commission of an offence."

Mr Prince said the State Government in no way condoned or supported the practise of prostitution.
"These new laws represent the strong commitment of the State Government to tackle issues of law and order in this State," the Minister said.
"This Bill should provide an assurance to the members of community that the Government has listened to and acted on their concerns and is prepared to legislate to stop street soliciting and kerb crawling, as well as the exploitation of children for the purpose of prostitution."
Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9220 5000