Ari Reid,

Why do you want decriminalization? Wouldn’t liberalization be better?

Haven’t we already as many laws as to trip on one any time we move?

If tax is the motive of our holy minders, shouldn’t they tax masturbation as well?

Jelly: Jayb your tax figures are all wrong but in the end it doesn't matter. Sex workers are paying tax whether they are criminalised or decriminalized.

Admittedly, just a guestimate. But, tell me where am I wrong. The Madam gets most of the money. The Pro gets very little of her effort. Both are at least paying Taxes on their earnings.

Dunno, last time I went to a Pro I was 18 & with my Army mates on my first time in Sydney. After I thought that it was a complete waste of my money & never went back. I found more than enough free Sex around & a lot more satisfying. After all it was the 60's. ;-) No, I never caught a cold.

Skeptic: If tax is the motive of our holy minders, shouldn’t they tax masturbation as well?

No money changes hands in Masturbation. The same as for free Sex. It's only when money changes hands that Sex becomes Taxable & the ATO becomes interested. If the Pro isn't registered & recording their tricks, how is the ATO going to collect the Tax. The Pro isn't going to tell them, therefore it remains illegal.

A Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year to you all.

I'm off the the Gold Coast for the next 5 days. Yuck! but it's a family thing. I take a good book. I'll be looking forward to your Posts in the New Year.

The author makes a good case, but I also think there are additional benefits not mentioned - the potential to clamp down on organised crime, drug trafficking and the sex-slave trade.

There will probably always be criminal involvement in the sex industry, irrespective of its decriminalisation, but, licensing, registration and monitoring of approved establishments and workers could reduce the incentives and returns for the 'illegal' trade, and could enable police to focus on the illegal component - to attack criminal trafficking and the criminal coercion (and worse) of vulnerable young females (and males), as well as the potentially associated trafficking in drugs and child pornography.

To me, these, as well as the obvious the health and safety protections, give more than adequate justification for the decriminalisation and formalising of a best-practice sex industry, not only in SA, but in the whole of Aus, and probably the world.

It is also possible that a well organised legal sex industry may aid in reducing the incidence of sex crimes and abuse in our community, through providing an outlet for otherwise frustrated individuals, including for those constrained by cultural, ethnic or religious edicts.

The sex industry is here to stay. Maintaining an outdated punitory approach to it is both disingenuous and exceedingly counterproductive.

...SA remains a leader in social policy, and the evidence is SA sex workers relegated to the “dark” where they belong!

...Long live the rights of the child!

If the sex workers want the same rights as other workers and citizens then they should pay tax on their earnings just as other workers and citizens do.