A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about sex workers soliciting US servicemen in Fremantle and whether laws are applied equally. The response indicates no identified problem and affirms equal application of the law.

AnsweredQoN 947Legislative Council
Asked
14 May 2003
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the Government aware that sex workers are soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around the Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle? (2) Are the police making every effort to prevent soliciting in other areas such as Highgate? (3) Why are the laws against street sex work not applied equally to US servicemen in Fremantle? (4) Will the Government act to prevent sex workers from soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle? (5) If not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
(2) Are the police making every effort to prevent soliciting in other areas such as Highgate? (3) Why are the laws against street sex work not applied equally to US servicemen in Fremantle? (4) Will the Government act to prevent sex workers from soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle? (5) If not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
(3) Why are the laws against street sex work not applied equally to US servicemen in Fremantle? (4) Will the Government act to prevent sex workers from soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle? (5) If not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
(4) Will the Government act to prevent sex workers from soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle? (5) If not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
(5) If not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
I thank the member for some notice of this question.  The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.
(1)-(5) The Western Australia Police Service advises that there is no identified problem with regard to the presence of sex workers soliciting for clients on the public wharves and streets around Fremantle Harbour when United States servicemen arrive for leave in Fremantle.  The Police Service has a dedicated team that proactively targets street-based sex workers and their clients.  The laws of Western Australia, including those dealing with sex workers soliciting for clients, are applied equally to all citizens and visitors.  The Police Service will respond to any complaint or identified problem to enforce the law dealing with sex workers to prevent them soliciting for clients.

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