Prostitution reform 'a moral judgment'

11.45am

The prostitution reform laws passed by Parliament last night are being hailed as a vital moral judgment although police expressed concern on how the changes could be enforced.

Parliament passed the Prostitution Reform Bill, which decriminalises prostitution, 60-59 in a result which hinged on a handful of swinging votes and the abstention of Labour MP Ashraf Choudhary, who had previously indicated he would oppose it.

The bill's author, Labour MP Tim Barnett, said MPs had made the most vital moral judgment since homosexual law reform 17 years ago.

"I feel quite extraordinary at the moment and we have created what I regard as world-leading law," an elated Mr Barnett told reporters minutes after the vote.

"I am proud of every one of the 60 MPs who supported the legislation right across Parliament, many of whom have been under intense pressure in their conservative electorates."

Prostitutes' Collective national director Catherine Healy welcomed the new laws, saying they would help build good relationships between authorities and sex workers.

"I think there will be a far stronger relationship, more trusting, more focused on real exploitation as opposed to police being tied up with tedious administrative duties such as recording the names of sex workers from one end of the country to the other," she told National Radio.

"I think there will be lots of collaborative relationships formed that will be positive and will result in better protection."

But opponents of the bill say it is immoral and a poor outcome for New Zealand women and children.

Civil liberties lobby group Maxim Institute managing director Greg Fleming said New Zealand was capable of producing much better law.

"Basically it says that it's okay to buy and sell women for sex ... that it's okay for men to exploit vulnerable women and children."

Right to Life New Zealand spokesman Ken Orr said it would not change the fact that prostitution was sexual violence against women, exploited them and was an attack on their dignity.

"The (bill) is anti-woman, anti-family and will do nothing to eliminate the psychological damage that is inflicted on all prostitutes," he said in a statement.

"Parliament has now given a clear message to the community that it is alright for a woman to prostitute her body and to men, including married men, that it is alright to use prostitutes."

Bishop Richard Randerson, who headed a group of church leaders opposing the bill, said the bill would lead to an increase in "client demand".

"I think Parliament has sent a signal that commercial and recreational sex is an established part of New Zealand culture now," he told National Radio.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said there appeared to be no provision for police to close down a business if it was found to be involved with organised crime.

"We're not worried about decriminalisation but what we believe there should have been is a law there to keep organised crime out," he said.

"That would only be done by proving that the money from prostitution or from the business was going into organised crime, which is relatively easy to do. All you've got to do is follow the money."

Mr O'Connor said the legislation would likely need fine-tuning to ensure better protection for women in the industry.

- NZPA