Scarlet Alliance fails in bid to gag playwright Peta Brady

The St Kilda experience shows that the decriminalisation of sex work – and the decriminalisation of buyers - does not work to make prostitution safer. It also highlights the problems associated with the Scarlet Alliance's defence of 'sex work' over 'sex workers'.

We need to provide empowerment to those involved in the sex industry and we need legislation that ensures they can go to the police whenever they experience assault or harassment. This can only happen under the Nordic model of prostitution policy – a policy that criminalises the purchasers of sexual services but decriminalises the sellers, and offers them opportunities to exit the sex industry.

This year, Norway has proven the success of their legislation and data from a 2012 report showed that physical assaults had declined, whilst sex industry workers were able to report more incidences of verbal, and other types of harassment.

The Nordic model legislation in Norway has given prostitutes greater protections against physical assault, and empowered them to report instances of harassment by buyers. The laws have made punters accountable for their actions. The only way forward is to give those involved in prostitution the power to report the violence and harassment they suffer at the hands of punters. The Nordic model of prostitution policy focuses the attention of legislators and law enforcement exactly where it should be - on the punters.