Joe O'Toole (Independent)

All I am saying is that I have total empathy with the points the Senator made. This amendment is a tidying up exercise. It would not mean a major change. It would simply create a sense of equity and equality of guilt wherever it happens.

I am not raising the big debate of legalising or otherwise prostitution. I am simply saying that what is criminal on the street should be criminal elsewhere. I am suggesting that if it is criminal to do it with a trafficked person, it is criminal to do it with a local person. Those are not difficult issues. On that basis I am pressing the amendment.