Prostitution bill 'dead in water'

Kalgoorlie MP John Bowler has downplayed the importance of the upcoming vote on the State Government’s prostitution bill, claiming it is “dead in the water”.

Members of the so-called “Christian Right” of the Liberal Party, including Eyre MP Graham Jacobs, are expected to use their conscience votes to oppose the proposed legislation when it is debated this year.

The Government has said its legislation would improve the current “containment policy” and give police clearer powers to act on illegal brothels.

Mr Bowler said he would vote in favour of the legislation while introducing an amendment to the bill to exempt Hay Street brothels from the planning requirements that would force brothels within 100m of homes to close.

But he has pronounced that the bill will fail because of the opposition of the Labor Party and with the dissenting voices within the Liberals.

“I don’t think the whole thing will get up,” Mr Bowler said.

“I think it is a waste of time.

“I have got more important things to worry about.”

Mr Jacobs said he was in favour of most of the tenets of the bill except tolerated prostitution areas in Perth.

He said Premier Colin Barnett was aware of his opposition to the current bill and many of his party colleagues believed it was the “best of a bad lot”, referencing a similar bill from the previous Labor Government.