South Australian sex workers are a major step closer to having their industry decriminalised, with a bill passing the state's Upper House.

Key points: The bill passed SA's Upper House after seven hours of debate

The bill passed SA's Upper House after seven hours of debate It would decriminalise acts relating to engaging in or living off the proceeds of sex work

It would decriminalise acts relating to engaging in or living off the proceeds of sex work It is now destined for the Lower House, where the numbers have never been tested

The bill introduced by Greens member Tammy Franks will now be sent to the House of Assembly for consideration, after a Legislative Council clause-by-clause debate that lasted for about seven hours over two days.

Among other provisions, the bill would remove all offences relating to engaging in, soliciting, or living off the proceeds of sex work from the state's laws.

All parties have given their MPs a conscience vote on the issue and the bill passed the Upper House by seven votes in the 21-seat chamber.



This is the 13th attempt by sex worker advocates to change the law in two decades.

An identical bill passed the Upper House in 2017, but it stalled and was never debated in the Lower House before last year's state election.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman is expected to champion the bill in the Lower House, where the numbers have never been tested on the issue.

This is the first bill which has gone to a conscience vote in South Australia under the Marshall Liberal Government.

Bill 'decriminalises pimping'

The most vocal opponent of the bill was Labor member Claire Scriven, who moved a series of unsuccessful amendments.

The first of those was to change the entire name of the bill from "Decriminalisation of Sex Work" to "Decriminalisation of Prostitution, Pimping and Brothel Keeping".

She told Parliament that the bill "also decriminalises the keeping of brothels, and it decriminalises pimping".

"I think that the name of the bill should reflect, to the extent possible, the major thrust of the bill," Ms Scriven said.

"The bill itself says it is OK to buy sexual access … normalising sexual access to women for payment, normalising violence against women."

The amendment was defeated but did find some support, including from the Liberal Treasurer Rob Lucas.

"I believe in calling a spade a spade, in my view it is prostitution," he told Parliament.

Sex workers with politicians and an industry representative at SA Parliament. ( ABC News: Rebecca Puddy )

Labor member Irene Pnevmatikos told Parliament that the terms "prostitution" and "prostitute" had negative connotations.

"Sex worker groups in Australia reject the word prostitute and have done so since the 1970s," Ms Pnevmatikos said.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink's sole contribution on changing the bill's name was to say: "I oppose the amendment, I think it is absurd."

Police to be permitted to search brothels

The chamber did agree to an amendment that would grant police the power to enter brothels where an officer suspects a crime has been — or is about to be — committed.

"This is an industry that is particularly vulnerable to criminality," Health Minister Stephen Wade said.

"They still need to have reasonable belief … but I think we should respect the request of police to have affirmation of their search powers."

Ms Franks said the police powers caused her "some concern", while a number of sex workers watching the debate expressed their displeasure on social media.

Sex workers have complained of harassment and intimidation by police under the current laws.