Hamilton MPs running scared from prostitution bill backlash, says Bos

Hamilton councillor Peter Bos says the city's MPs are running scared from a voter backlash over the Government's legalisation of the sex industry.

City Labour MPs Dianne Yates and Martin Gallagher this week urged the city council to institute a bylaw banning sex workers from the suburbs.

Last year's Prostitution Reform Act gave councils two years to decide whether to exercise new but limited powers to regulate brothels' location and signage.

Mr Bos said the MPs had realised the extent of community anger over the reforms only after he sent 17,000 letters seeking city residents' views.

He was shocked at the huge response, which he said reflected widespread anger at the Government's lack of consultation before it passed the law.