18th July, 2012

The Victorian Parliament should set up an inquiry into sex trafficking in Victoria as a matter of urgency, according to Dan Flynn, Victorian state director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

Mr Flynn said the inquiry should investigate the extent of trafficking and other exploitation of people in the sex industry and the implementation of the "Nordic approach" to prevent trafficking and exploitation and said it was "apparent" Victorian government laws "endorsing prostitution and brothels are being used by human traffickers to entice young Asian women into the trade".

“At a time where Nordic countries were successfully combating human trafficking through laws which criminalise the purchase of sex, Victoria’s policies were helping the traffickers,” he said.

Mr Flynn said recent arrests in Melbourne and Korea show that attempts to ‘regulate’ prostitution in Australia have failed to curb the ‘demand’ for trafficked women in Australia.

“Human trafficking is the second largest illegal industry in the world. Our governments have to do more to stop this abuse of women.

~ www.acl.org.au

- DAVID ADAMS