On 12 October 2021, the Victorian Government introduced a sex work decriminalisation bill into the Lower House of parliament, and this is anticipated to pass into law by the second of December 2021. The new laws would replace Victoria’s outdated licensing system, which criminalises consensual adult sex work. It marks the culmination of decades of work by sex workers advocating to be treated in the same way as other workers, and will greatly improve the safety of their workplace. Victoria is the fourth jurisdiction in the world to decriminalise sex work.

Tonight we’re lucky to be joined by Matthew, a sex worker and the Policy Officer at Sex Work Law Reform Victoria. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria is an independent non-partisan volunteer group led by sex workers, lobbying for the full decriminalisation of consensual adult sex work in Victoria. Matthew will speak with us about this bill and what it means for sex workers.