Sarah Oliver
Melton council will run a community campaign to raise awareness of the Victorian government’s Sex Decriminalisation Bill 2021.
At a meeting last Monday, council responded to a motion put forward by councillor Moira Deeming at a meeting on October 25, to undertake the campaign, which will run from November 29 to December 22.
Council will also gain community feedback via a survey to garner further understanding of what level of support residents have for the bill, as well as views on how it might impact child, neighbourhood and community safety.
It will also ascertain the impact on general amenity, safety and economic viability and general neighbourhood atmosphere.
A report will be prepared after the survey closes at the end of March next year, despite the bill most likely being passed by then, for the state government to review as part of any potential future amendments.
Cr Deeming said that council knows after conversations with locals, that the community “do not want sex work to be conducted out of homes next to their homes, which attracts all kinds of other behaviour which is undesirable in a residential area”.
Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg was the only councillor who opposed the motion, saying “ratepayers’ money and council officer time could be better utilised somewhere else”, with the campaign estimated to cost $2000.
A Department of Justice and Community Services spokesperson said: “Victorians deserves to feel safe in their place of work – decriminalisation will ensure that sex work is safe work.
“Only sex work between consenting adults will be decriminalised. Criminal offences to protect children and workers from coercion and address other forms of non-consensual sex work will continue to be enforced by state and federal law enforcement agencies.
“Decriminalisation does not mean sex work will be deregulated. It will be subject to regulation like any other business.”
In a post on Facebook, Cr Vandenberg said: “I am dismayed and concerned at the misinformation that this rate payer funded campaign will potentially spread that will have no outcome as the bill is set to pass the senate”.
Consultation has been held between the state government and stakeholders, including the Chief Executives and mayors of Victorian councils and school and early education stakeholders, which will continue throughout 2022.
