Prostitution Reform Act 2003
| Prostitution Reform Act | |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Parliament | |
| Royal assent | 27 June 2003 |
| Commenced | 28 June 2003 |
| Administered by | Ministry of Justice |
| Legislative history | |
| Introduced by | Tim Barnett |
| Introduced | 21 September 2000 |
| First reading | 8 November 2000 |
| Second reading | 19 February 2003 |
| Third reading | 25 June 2003 |
| Related legislation | |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 is an Act of Parliament that decriminalised prostitution in New Zealand. The Act also gave new rights to sex workers. It has attracted international attention, although its reception has been mixed. The Act repealed the Massage Parlours Act 1978 and the associated regulations.
The Act was introduced as a member's bill by Tim Barnett after being drawn from a ballot. Members were allowed a conscience vote, and on 25 June 2003, the bill passed its third reading by a margin of one vote (60–59), after the country's only Muslim MP, Ashraf Choudhary, voted to abstain, thereby allowing the bill to narrowly pass.