Earlier this month the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia released a paper urging Australia to adopt what is known as the "Nordic Model" for legislating sex work.

The model essentially criminalises paying for sex or sexual services while decriminalising the sex worker.

The model originated in Sweden and has been adopted by Norway and Iceland but not all Nordic countries. For clarity, it is also referred to as the Swedish model in this interview.

The coalition behind the paper were unavailable for an interview in time but to clarify their position the paper reads:

"We [The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia] recommend what has been termed the ‘Nordic Model’, which criminalises the purchase of ‘sexual services’ but decriminalises those within systems of prostitution. This approach recognises that systems of trafficking and prostitution are largely driven by demand and, according, it targets the (overwhelmingly male) buyers rather than those (predominantly women) who are prostituted ... the Nordic Model offers a new way forward for more comprehensive, cohesive and compassionate prostitution policy in Australia."

The full paper can be accessed at www.catwa.org.au/files/images/Nordic_Model_Pamphlet.pdf.

Brisbane Line reporter Calum Irvine spoke to Janelle Fawkes, CEO of Australian peak sex worker organisation the Scarlet Alliance, about how she feels the Swedish Model is harmful to sex workers.