Jessie's thoughts about the Tassie laws...

A few years ago the Tassie sex industry was turned upside down due to the changing laws around sex work. Like N.T there is a brothel ban. This forced to shut down 2 of the agencies the shattered any sense of safety in the industry. Workers previously worked either private or for a agency.

One good thing out of this was a well known "sex worker bully wanna be fat fuck pimp wanna be dude" was forced out of business. There was some real scary threats this guy was doing and I have worked in Tassie as a sex worker and 3 scary bikie dudes turning up at your door because your a sex worker after threatening text messages really scares you away.

Well they thought that anyway. But there was nothing ILLEGAL about renting out rooms to sex workers and still profiting off sex workers. This is not managing sex workers as they are not answering the phones to organised the bookings

Now sex workers all have to be private and can't work together. That would also mean that a male and female couple couldn't offer a couple service either.

I'm lucky to be a well functioning private sex worker. But not all sex workers are skilled in running their own business. It is really handy to walk into a agency do your work, have the phones answered, bookings organised and walk away without having to worry about it till the next shift. But Tassie sex workers don't have this choice.

As a peer educator, the social isolation now inflicted onto sex workers in tassie is a national disgrace (even more of a disgrace is the dept of health not funding a part time peer educator or this peer educator to do sex worker sensitivity training with doctors and nurses) and effects occupational health and safety issues such as working alone and not allowing to have someone to answer your phones or be security.

I've always enjoyed working with at least one other sex worker. I have even supported new sex workers and taught them tricks of the trade to prevent unsafe practices or risky situations. There is nothing better than a bit of sisterhood, someone to debrief with after a client, ask for tips and tricks and just have someone else there so you don't go nuts waiting for the phone to ring. Supporting each other is really important. There is nothing more lonely booking a hotel room, getting stuffed around all day and night and having no one there to support each other.

The newspaper allowing “anti prostitution” ad’s in the paper all the time does not break down the discrimination of sex workers in a state that is 30 years BEHIND time!

Happy hookers are around. Happy hookers have consensual sex with other adults.

Happy hookers are part of the society and these laws increase stigma and makes sex workers feel like criminals because it’s hard ( like N.T) to work 100% legally.

Let sex workers have the option to work private or with a supportive parlor. Because sisterhood and people looking out for each other is something that all of the community benefits from.