Banjo, you are right I am familiar with the industry, this question about why Australian sex worker activists seem happy to support an influx of foreign workers comes up quite a bit. There are some diverse attitudes out there in the sex industry (just like anywhere else) but sex workers who work in rights groups see that the issue of trafficking gets so overblown by moral values they would rather have visas for foreign sex workers than continue with the morally-hyped trafficking framework that says we are all victims.

Its not good for Australian sex workers to see workers from Asia be pulled into prosecutions, treated badly, and then have to go home with no money to show for their ordeal. Help one of these workers in any way other than going to the police and you risk being charged with assisting sexual slavery!

Its not good for the Australian sex industry to have the Australian Federal Police place ads (in places where clients and workers search for services and jobs) which tell people to, essentially, 'dob in a mistreated Asian worker and be a good citizen'.

Its not good for Australian sex workers who are of Asian appearance to be treated by police as if they are illegal immigrants with a big potential for getting them a 'trafficking' bust.

No-body is saying that the Australian sex industry NEEDS foreign workers but foreign workers are coming here anyway and they are fellow sufferers of sex work stigma just like anyone else who works here. Its not sexual slavery but no-one (with a heart) wants to see a fellow sex worker pay a big debt contract if they don't have to.

Brilliant post, Candi.

Cheers

“Its not good for Australian sex workers to see workers from Asia be pulled into prosecutions, treated badly, and then have to go home with no money to show for their ordeal.”

Volenti non fit injuria

“they are fellow sufferers of sex work stigma”

Maybe if they got out of that business, they would not suffer the stigma.

I could go on but why bother….

I migrated to Australia

I needed to first provide / evidence

A full understanding of English
A skill which was listed as being in high demand by Australian commerce
A financial capacity (money in the bank)
A clean police record and of good character
A clean health / medical report

I then waited, in a queue, for an interview by an Australian government official before my visa was issued and I came here, legally.

I see no reason for Australia to “lower that bar” which I had to climb over for the benefit of “women of ill repute”

Col,
I believe Candi is talking about workers entering Aus on temporary visas not permanant residents. The need for migrants to jump over the bar like you had to is long past. I do not agree with the ease that migrants are now favoured by, but that is the situation. Generally, we should be far more discriminatory with our migrant intake.

I think the biggest problem Candi and her fellows could face, if visas are made available to foreign sex workers, is that many will come here and undercut prices and make it difficult for locals. Also I could foresee a rise in STD which may be a problem.

Personally, I have no need for the services they offer but recognise that there has always been a sex industry and i have no moral issue with that. Where there is a demand a supplier will provide service.

I have to admit this is a problem about which I had no idea at all.

But, once encountered, it does indeed strike one as being not only unfair but smacking of hypocrysy. Given that sex work is legal employment, what possible reason could there be for not allowing workers in that industry to come on working holidays?

Does the Government wish to give the impression that there is no such industry in Australia? We would, in that case, be a completely unique country, wouldn't we?

*However I wonder if you can see any lodical reason why the Aus sex industry needs protection when in other industries our workers have to compete with foreign employees.*

Well in this industry the real competition is more likely those
girls down at the pub, giving it away for nothing, after a couple
of drinks :)