Marc My Words.
From Marc Alexander MP. 28 March 2003

United Future NZ-Christchurch Supplement

Prostitution reform Bill Speech / Marc Alexander

(Delivered to Parliament on Wednesday 26th March)

The Bill before us I, suggest, should be called the Prostitution Perform Bill.

Because.those who believe that prostitutes are nothing more than free agents exercising their right to sell their bodies in a free market transaction couldn't be more wrong. Instead of 'liberating' sex workers it will 'expand' their opportunities in a crime infested industry. It could easily have been called the Politically Erect Women's Career Degradation Bill.

Let's not be naïve.you can't separate drugs, violence, servitude and crime from prostitution by legislation. The result will be an expansion of the sex trade.& new opportunities for drugs and violence.

Police monitoring and enforcement will become increasingly difficult, certainly more onerous and.in all likelihood, futile. Decriminalisation will mean that brothels could.and would.be lawfully established in our suburbs.our communities, with scant regard.

How are we expected to restrict the proliferation of brothels with this Bill? The rampant drug usage within the industry will end up with more locations to operate from.or is this the first step to the decriminalisation of drugs?

Why don't we call it the Anti-Democratic & Ethically Challenged Bill? Why have these 8000 the right to foist their interests, and gain legitimacy over the rest of us, and in spite of us?

If their case is so compelling.then at let's have a referendum. Let's hear the wisdom and commonsense of our fellow Kiwi's who do not believe Mr Barnett's' claim that prostitution is an idea whose time has come. It has not!!

Overseas experience shows that decriminalisation encourages more women into prostitution, and.without the fear of prosecution, increased competition, greater control by gangs, more pimping and an even greater risk of violence, intimidation and female abuse.

We could even call it the Prostitution Business Protection Bill.

Because.Mr. Barnett doesn't want to simply decriminalise prostitution, he wants the industry to have a preferred business status!

He's dismissed suggestions that brothels be licensed because that would "push smaller owners behind closed doors" and that prostitutes would be penalised by having to "face the same costs as large brothels to process applications"!

So. In complete contradiction to the practice of all other businesses.legitimate businesses that would welcome similar reductions in compliance costs, Mr Barnett wants prostitution to have preferential status!!

If the Bill passes, there will be a widening job market for women. They will be able to choose from 'Prime Minister' to 'prostitute' as legitimate choices.

From serve the people to being served up.

Truth is.the push for decriminalisation is to remove legal consequence.only a hop away from ethical approval.

I ask you.where is the vision when we push to legislate a legal tolerance that is nothing more than political correctness dressed up in a whore's skirt hoisted above the ethical plimsoll line?

Decriminalisation would be victory of stupidity over commonsense, a damming indictment of the place we hold woman in society, and a pathway of ethical bankruptcy for future generations.

It should not be called the Prostitutes Reform Bill because it reforms nothing. It is the Prostitutes Perform Bill in intent and effect.

This Bill is not the answer, that's because when society makes an activity un-punishable by law, society will inevitably make it 'acceptable'. Supporters claim the Bill will stop child prostitution. it's already illegal!

Decriminalising the sex trade for those over 18 will do for underage prostitutes what lowering the drinking age has done for underage drinkers.

Women did not demand their right to vote only to deny their true worth and undermine their status as purchasable sex objects.

How did we get to such a ridiculous state where valiant women fought for the right to stand on their feet, only to be rewarded with the right to be on their backs!

This is not a Reform Bill. it is a Perform Bill that crushes a woman's spirit.

Look to your children and see their ethical inheritance.because neither the author of this Bill, nor the supporters in this chamber, who attempt to pass this legislation will be there to pick up the pieces.

They will deliver their vote and walk away. And those of us who give a damn will be left to clean up after them.

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