Robson Matt: Prostitution Reform Bill — Second Reading 
Robson Matt: Prostitution Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:606;Page:3625] 
Hon MATT ROBSON (Deputy Leader—Progressive) 
: 
 The Progressive members in this Parliament—Jim Anderton and myself—have discussed this bill with our party leadership and we have decided that this is truly a conscience vote for us and not a party decision. That is unusual for us because we try in most cases to proceed on the basis of the policy that we put before the country. Why is this a conscience vote? It is because although prostitution is an area requiring social reform there is no simple answer and there are a number of personal decisions that only an individual can take.  
Opponents and proponents of the bill as far as I am aware all proclaim that they do not want punitive measures to be taken but to ensure that those in prostitution can move into healthy life choices. Success in the future whether this bill goes through or not would be just a first step towards that. Of course there is a need for Parliament to concentrate on the issues that have been brought up and a need for the Government to take responsibility for some of the issues that cannot be dealt with by the chance of a member’s bill being enacted. But to have those healthy life choices requires a social and economic programme that will provide alternatives to prostitution. Only the Government parties—Progressive or Labour—provide the alternative policies that lead to full employment the removal of barriers to education and social support allowing those in prostitution if they wish to make a fresh and productive life for themselves. Our policies should ensure that those in prostitution have full access to health care without discrimination to employment and to educational opportunities. Legislation alone cannot do that; it requires Government action and policy direction.  
Many parties rely on empty and vacuous moral phrase-mongery on the issue of prostitution. They preach and prate about their commitment to the family but do not have policies that allow family members to obtain the means to build a constructive life. When put to the test on for instance 4 weeks’ minimum annual leave for the lowest-paid New Zealanders they vote against that simple contribution to a better family life. They truly preach “pie in the sky when you die” rather than implementing social reforms for our life on earth. Good reforming legislation cures a mischief. How to cure that mischief has caused furious debate. That is why this has come down to a conscience vote. Conscience presupposes consciousness. If social being determines consciousness then it is necessary to look at our social structure in order to determine remedies. If parties vote against this bill en bloc as ACT and New Zealand First have indicated they will they need to put forward the social economic educational and employment policies that provide an alternative to prostitution.  
Tim Barnett has rightly highlighted the health concerns for prostitutes their exploitation by those who employ them and by the pimps and spivs who hang around and the related issues of drug addiction blackmail and deeply entrenched psychological problems. If members vote against this legislation they have to provide a better alternative to it. I am voting against it. I do not believe that the bill is totally wrong. I simply believe that it does not get to the core of the issues adds a nightmare of regulation elevates sex work to the position of healthy productive and fulfilling labour in our society and sets up a policing regime that in my view would drive providers and clients underground. My reference to that is taken from the experience of the Socialist Party of the Netherlands—a left-wing party in the Parliament of the Netherlands and one that is close to my heart—which voted for reform along the lines of Tim Barnett’s bill. In an article that its members sent to me and in discussions with them on the phone they told me they believed that they had made a mistake. They said that legalisation had led to a bigger industry to the driving underground of many people and to greater misery. I took notice of their experience. It is one view.  
I have no truck with the reactionary semi-religious prattling on the issue of prostitution that glorifies a model of the family that is actually oppressive and in a condescending way sees “fallen women” as needing redemption and to be preached at rather than to be given the tools needed to find employment proceed with study and end drug addiction. I say to those who have given me such views ad nauseum that they should read John 8:3-11: “He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone” or words to that effect.  
Jim Anderton and I while completely respecting the motives of Tim Barnett do not believe that for those involved in the industry this bill will cure the mischief of exploitation drug addiction severe health risks and child prostitution. We argue that attention must be turned to solving the underlying causes of the issue. The first step is to pay attention to poverty. At the last election the Progressives outlined the extent of poverty in New Zealand. We are advocating in this Budget round and in our policies for greater attention and a cohesive approach to be taken to ending poverty in New Zealand. There needs to be consistent and cohesive action to combat drug abuse particularly amongst the young. The Progressives in Government are part of the process of developing an action plan on alcohol abuse and illicit drugs. We are pushing for early intervention strategies to be better resourced and widened.