Updated September 18, Advertisements offering accommodation in Adelaide in exchange for sex show how unaffordable rentals can be for young people, Shelter SA says. The comment comes as debate continues on the sex work decriminalisation bill currently before the South Australian Parliament. The ABC has seen several online ads offering accommodation in exchange for either one night of sex or ongoing sexual favours. They appear to be placed by men, or by women offering pictures or services in exchange for money or accommodation.
Shelter SA executive director Alice Clark said she was not surprised to hear about the practice. Legislation to decriminalise prostitution passed Parliament's Legislative Council, upper house, in June , but has yet to be voted on in the House of Assembly, the lower house. The bill was introduced by Greens MLC Tammy Franks and was supported by a majority as part of a conscience vote, with members from both Labor and the Liberal Party voting in favour.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas revealed Tuesday morning that he would be voting against the proposed laws. Sex Industry Network general manager Kat Morrison said the bill could allow for assistance for people involved in "survival sex work" because they would be less afraid to go to police or a lawyer if the situation turned sour.
However, she said the issue was more about the unaffordability of housing and the low Newstart Allowance rather than sex work. While she said she would support the decriminalisation bill, southern suburbs Labor MP Nat Cook said it was unrealistic that "the utopian world of decent contract law" could help women offering sex for accommodation.
Ms Franks said her bill offered a better solution for women offering sex for accommodation, than a contract between individuals. In a statement, an SA Police spokesman said the request was "not illegal and does not constitute as any sort of brothel service". Topics: sexual-offences , law-crime-and-justice , prostitution , advertising , crime , police , housing , state-parliament , government-and-politics , adelaide , sa.
