Tim Barnett

Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central
Chair, Justice and Electoral Select Committee

10th January 2005
Prostitution Law Petition

Tim Barnett MP, sponsor of the Prostitution Reform Bill which became law in 2003, has responded to the failure of the petition to instigate a Citizens Initiated Referendum to repeal the law:

“While commending the work done to try an initiate a referendum as democracy in action, I am relieved that the prostitution law can continue as intended. A debate on repeal of a young law which has worked to date and is still taking effect would have been a pointless exercise.

More constructively, a Government-appointed Review Committee is examining its impact and looking at how best to deter entry to and encourage exiting from prostitution. Since the law came in, there have been no tangible reports of additional problems arising – and multiple examples of better responses to the real problems associated with prostitution.

Countries worldwide are looking for sensible legal and policy approaches to prostitution; New Zealand’s decriminalisation approach is a world-leader in that respect”.

A review of progress made since prostitution law reform is available (from 6pm on 10/01/05) on http://www.timbarnett.org.nz/prostitution.htm

ENDS

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