Fiona Patten explains what has changed now sex work is decriminalised in Victoria

Victoria has decriminalised sex work.

The state’s upper house of parliament passed the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill on Thursday, 24 votes to 10.

And the existing Sex Work Act has been repealed.

“For decades, we have seen more and more of the industry working outside the very tight laws that had existed up until yesterday,” Reason Party leader Fiona Patten told Neil Mitchell.

“Sex workers will be able to work legally outside of brothels, so they’ll be able to conduct their business at home, which many of them already do it.

“They won’t need to register with the government and provide their personal details to a government department.”

That concerns Neil Mitchell.

“I accept that street prostitution is a way of the world and will always happen, but it worries me that it will be unregulated,” he said.

Ms Patten also delivered a brutal comeback to Derryn Hinch after he recently criticised Ms Patten for supporting the Andrews’ government in parliament.

“I don’t listen to Derryn Hinch, really, any more,” she said.

“I know he calls himself the ‘Human Headline’ but I’m not sure he is relevant.

“I’m not an extension (of government) I’m the leader of the Reason Party and I’m heading to Sydney tomorrow for a by-election where we are running candidates.

“I’m not a member of the government.

“I work with them and get things done – I see that as my job.

“I came in here to achieve certain goals and I’ve worked to do that.”

Press PLAY below to hear Fiona Patten speak with Neil Mitchell