Aussie state plans prostitute advocacy

BRISBANE, Australia, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The state government of Queensland, Australia, has unveiled plans for an advocacy service that could include extolling the positive side of prostitution.

The $333,000 a year program would include free or discounted safe-sex products for prostitutes and sexual health education programs for the sex workers, the Brisbane Courier-Mail reported Friday.

The Prostitution Licensing Authority, the government's sex industry regulator, is pushing for Premier Anna Bligh's government to also include community advocacy for prostitutes in the program.

"The service should contribute to a more balanced and positive view of sex workers in the general community, assisting to overcome the stigma attached to prostitution," the authority said.

Deputy Opposition Leader and health spokesman Mark McArdle objected to the Bligh government's plans, saying officials should not be encouraging the sex trade, the newspaper reported.

"I don't care what the premier's loony left faction thinks -- prostitution is not an exciting and profitable career opportunity that should be encouraged," he said. "Rather than giving free sex products to sex workers and business operators, Queensland Health should be spending money on ensuring sick Queensland children are not waiting too long for elective surgery."