Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Prostitution Reform Bill — Procedure Third Reading 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Prostitution Reform Bill — Procedure Third Reading 
[Volume:609;Page:6607] 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (NZ Labour—Mana) 
: 
 Kia ora talofa lava and warm Pacific greetings. I stand to speak on the final reading of this bill. I have not spoken during the previous readings of the bill because I wanted to hear all sides and to come to a considered decision. I have been subject to vigorous lobbying from all sides. This has been particularly controversial legislation on an issue with social ethical moral and religious dimensions. I have encouraged people throughout the Mana electorate to participate in the debate and to express their views to assist me in determining how I should vote. One useful piece of advice I received was to remember that the conscience in the conscience vote was my conscience and no one else’s. I have kept my peace and I have kept my own counsel. 
I have thought long and hard about how I might vote on this bill. It has not been easy. There are arguments by feminists for and against the bill and there are arguments by Christians for and against the bill. As a person who has been raised in the Church I have been concerned about the polarisation of the Christian view on prostitutes and prostitution. I have received many judgmental and unforgiving communications from people calling themselves Christians. Many have provided scriptural justification to support their arguments. The Bible has many texts relevant to this issue. Personally I am drawn to Luke’s story of the prostitute who washed Christ’s feet with her tears dried them with her hair and anointed his feet with perfume. The woman’s actions were in contrast to those of the Pharisees who rebuked Christ for forgiving a woman who lived a sinful life. 
When I entered Parliament I said that I would pursue a permanent interest in advocating and promoting the interests of women of Pacific people of Maori of the elderly of ethnic minorities and of all New Zealanders who are struggling to live a life of dignity. Over the last few weeks I have talked with and listened to many prostitutes and others working in the sex industry. I have been particularly touched by the stories of several Polynesian transsexuals and fa’afafines. Their stories tell me that the current laws serve to make their working life unsafe and to increase the risk in a risky occupation. They are struggling to live a life of dignity. The current laws do not protect them. Whilst this bill has its imperfections it does provide greater protection for prostitutes and affords them the same rights as other workers. 
In a perfect world there would be no need for prostitution. Good education effective social development programmes and high levels of employment can reduce the economic factors that push people into prostitution. But social and economic policies will not stop prostitution. We do not live in a perfect world. In spite of the moralising of the Pharisees and other well-meaning people prostitution is still with us. Legislation and social and economic policies have not stopped prostitution; they have had a very limited influence on that very ancient trade. So we are faced with the dilemma of supporting an unsatisfactory status quo or supporting legislation that can make the world a little safer for those living and working at the margins of our society. In my maiden speech I said that our nation New Zealand needs a new politics of honesty hope and healing—a politics that brings our communities and nation together so that all New Zealanders can fully participate and live a life of dignity. That includes all of our sisters and our brothers. We cannot deny a group of workers the protection that others have as a right. 
I do not believe that passing this bill will lead to a significant increase in prostitution. I am committed to protecting the human rights of all citizens whatever occupation they undertake. I will vote to support the third reading of the bill.