Opposition refuses to back Bill to control prostitution

28/3/00
The Opposition was unwilling to support the State Government's vital Prostitution Control Bill which would remove prostitutes and their 'pimps' from Perth's residential doorways and streets, Police Minister Kevin Prince said today
Mr Prince said the opposition's police spokesperson had been unable to give an assurance that Labor would provide the bipartisan support so strongly called for in a newspaper survey published today.
"This means that we are unable to control the kerb crawlers who currently plague suburbs such as Highgate as we have no laws to do so," he said.
"We will not be able to control the activities of street prostitutes for which there is inadequate law that is 100 years old.
"Support for the Government's legislation would also provide the powers to stop advertisements recruiting prostitutes and remove children from any involvement in prostitution.

"We are faced with the extraordinary spectacle of Vincent Mayor and ALP candidate John Hyde using local council by-laws in an attempt to control prostitution and kerb crawlers because the party he belongs to will not pass legislation to give police the power to fix the problem."
Mr Prince said the residents of inner Perth suburbs currently plagued by streetwalkers and kerb crawlers were entitled to have the 'trade' removed from around their homes and streets.
"The Opposition has made much of the human rights of prostitutes but I strongly support the rights of the residents over those of prostitutes peddling their trade in suburban streets," he said.
Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9220 5000