Prostitution reform a step closer to becoming law

By HELEN TUNNAH

Foreigners will not be able to come to New Zealand to act as sex workers or run brothels if a bid to decriminalise prostitution becomes law.

The planned law last night edged closer to being adopted after MPs approved a number of changes to the Prostitution Law Reform Bill.

A final vote is expected in two weeks after MPs voted 62 to 57 to move the bill to its final stages before Parliament.

Under the changes, no immigration permits will be issued to anyone intending to work as a prostitute, and no one can come here to invest in a brothel or run one.

Offenders could be forced to leave the country.

The changes are aimed at meeting New Zealand's international obligations to try to stop the trafficking of women and children for prostitution.

Under present laws, prostitution itself is not illegal, but associated acts such as brothel-keeping, soliciting and pimping are.

Labour MP Tim Barnett's bill aims to decriminalise prostitution by repealing those offences.

It also seeks to provide greater protection for sex workers by ensuring that they have the same health and safety protections afforded all workers by law.

In other changes agreed by MPs yesterday, local authorities would be able to prevent a building being used as a brothel if that was out of keeping with the "character" of an area or was likely to seriously offend people.

Signs for such a business could also be barred for the same reasons.

Under a change promoted by Justice Minister Phil Goff, brothel-keepers will be issued with certificates by district court registrars and must not have been convicted of a serious offence such as murder, assault or a sexual crime.

Green MP Sue Kedgley's amendment banning radio, television and public cinema advertisements was passed. But some newspaper classified advertising would be permitted.

An attempt by Labour MP Dianne Yates to make it a criminal offence to buy sexual services failed.