ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the state of Victoria where trade in women and girls in systems of prostitution has now been legalized for over two decades. It discusses how the sex industry in Australia has expanded, and turns to: economic vulnerability that underpins women's entry into prostitution; illegal sectors; organized crime and sex trafficking; street prostitution; limitations of occupational health and safety standards. The chapter describes the implications of the growth for aims to address harms of prostitution through legalization and decriminalization, as well as the expansion of illegal sectors, but focus on women's routes into prostitution in Australia. In all jurisdictions when prostitution legislation was introduced, street prostitution was recognized as undesirable and dangerous and measures introduced to deal with the 'nuisance' it caused to local communities. The ongoing existence of women and girls in street-based prostitution post-legalization/decriminalization further demonstrates that government legitimization of the trade cannot solve the problems associated with the industry.
