NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION
Thursday, June 12, 2003



Licensed brothels and legalised prostitution set to be law

WELLINGTON -- Labour MP Tim Barnett, the architect of proposals to legalise prostitution, is confident they will pass into law in a fortnight's time.

The Prostitution Reform Bill passed its second to last hurdle last night, setting up a regime of legalised prostitution. If passed, brothels will have to hold licences issued by local councils to try and ensure they were not run by criminals. Councils would also be able to control where brothels operated and the signs they used.

The version sent forward for final approval by Parliament was backed by 62 votes to 57 with one abstention.

Before the evening began, MPs were looking at legalisation of prostitution with very few rules, but Mr Barnett said he supported the changes.

"We are quite content with the amendments... in terms of zoning and certification. They make the bill more palatable and we are looking forward to the final third reading vote in two weeks," Mr Barnett said.

MPs had not changed their minds despite heavy lobbying.

"People have now committed themselves and it would take a lot to move people. Some have been brave, but they recognise good law when they see it."

MPs also voted in favour of restricting advertising for sexual services to the classified sections of newspapers, and of attempts to control people travelling to New Zealand to work as prostitutes.

Most parties allowed MPs to vote on their conscience. Both New Zealand First and United Future opposed the changes as a bloc, while the Green MPs were all in favour.

If the bill is finally passed into law, local authorities could set by-laws to regulate brothels.

Brothel owners would be required to have licences and would be disqualified if they had convictions for serious violent crimes, being part of an organised criminal group, serious drug offences and money laundering.

Councils would also be able to regulate through resource consents where brothels operated and through by-laws what signs they used. Mr Barnett said Auckland City Council had already welcomed those measures.

"It will only be a major issue for three or four areas... and I think with the delegated powers councils already have they will be prepared for the changes."

MPs also moved to restrict prostitutes and brothels advertising to the classified sections of newspapers.

The restricted advertising proposal was put forward by Green MP Sue Bradford.

She welcomed her amendment's acceptance and the wider passage of the bill.

"I am absolutely thrilled... and I am looking forward to its passing into law."

She expected heavy lobbying, but predicted it would fail to halt the bill.

"It can't be worse than being continually told you are going to go to hell," as critics of the bill have said.

A company breaking the advertising restrictions -- if it is finally passed as part of the Prostitution Reform Bill -- would be fined $50,000, and an individual $10,000.

The measure was supported by 63 votes to 52.

Its success also meant a proposal by United Future MP Gordon Copeland for a complete ban on advertising commercial sexual services was ruled out.

The ban was not put to the vote as the chairman said it would contradict the decision taken minutes earlier to just impose restrictions.

The ruling angered a number of MPs, who said they were in favour of a complete ban and would not have supported Ms Bradford's proposal if they had known it would have ruled out the possibility of a stricter measure.

A series of proposals to restrict legalisation or put in tougher controls were defeated by large margins.

Among those to fail was an amendment making it still illegal to solicit in a public place and make a living out of running a brothel.

A proposal by Labour MP Dianne Yates to make it illegal to hire a prostitute was defeated by 96 votes to 19.

Legalisation opponents said the bill would see prostitution surge in New Zealand, with criminal elements taking control to exploit the weakest parts of the community.

Supporters said the status quo was not working as criminals were already running brothels. They also argued police time was being taken up trying to control prostitution.

The bill will also: * introduce safe sex information requirements; * strengthen laws against coercion of sex workers; * raise penalties and reduce defences available for clients of sex workers aged 16 to 18; and * establish a review committee, which among other things would look at ways to help people avoid entering and to leave the sex industry.