The Australian Christian Lobby supports the government’s stated opposition to funding prostitution services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the National Disability Insurance Agency’s loss on appeal this week making a government response urgent.
“As this week’s Federal Court decision sets out, the government – by legislation or regulation – can put its position into law,” ACL spokesperson Wendy Francis said today, “As it stands, the government’s position last year was to oppose using NDIS funds to access sexual services. Now they need to put that position into law.”
“Why would the government use precious disability funds on prostitution, when prostitution disables people?” Mrs Francis asked, “Studies show that 68% of prostitutes meet the DSM criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Sex workers also sustain physical disabilities from a life in that industry.”
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