Media Release – CJ Palmer Appeal Verdict

The WA Court of Appeal has today handed down a unanimous verdict to allow the appeal made by CJ Palmer and to reduce her sentence from 6 years to 4, against the charge of grievous bodily harm for the transmission of HIV to her ex-partner. CJ Palmer will now be eligible for parole as of April 1st, 2019.

The WA Court of Appeal have accepted the appeal made by CJ Palmer against her sentence, in a unanimous ruling on the basis that the sentence delivered on 16/02/18 was manifestly excessive.

Lena Van Hale, Manager of the WA sex worker support project Magenta states, “We applaud the decision from the WA Court of Appeal to reduce CJ Palmer’s sentence to 4 years. There is more evidence than ever before that punitive laws criminalising HIV transmission are harmful to public health. While our laws do not yet recognise international best practise in this space. In recognising the original sentence as manifestly excessive the WA court of appeal take the first step toward undoing that harm.”

Evidence shows that criminalisation in these cases is detrimental to public health. Criminalisation of non-intentional HIV transmission reduces rates of testing, does not reduce HIV transmissions, and undermines effective health promotion.

“We are happy for CJ and her family to hear this decision from the Court of Appeal today. We hope that CJ’s remaining time in the criminal justice system is free from the harmful coverage and discrimination that surrounded her incarceration”

Throughout her trial advocates called for courts and policy-makers to reject the application of criminal law in cases of alleged non-intentional HIV transmission, in line with Australia’s existing Guidelines for the Management of People with HIV who Place Others at Risk, and in line with UNAIDS guidance around management of HIV transmission.

Sexual orientation, gender identity & intersex status discrimination information sheet

From 1 August 2013 it will be unlawful under federal law to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their:

  • sexual orientation
  • gender identity
  • intersex status

Same-sex couples are now also protected from discrimination under the new definition of ‘marital or relationship status’ (this was previously ‘marital status’).

The Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013 (Cth) (SDA Amendment Act) inserts the new grounds into the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA).

Most states and territories have some form of protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. However, the SDA Amendment Act introduces more inclusive definitions and addresses gaps such as a lack of coverage for acts or practices of the federal government. It also qualifies the exemptions for religious organisations to the effect that it does not apply to conduct connected with the provision of Commonwealth-funded aged care services. It also includes the new ground of intersex status which is not covered by any other law.

Click to Download

LASH Study findings on the Sex Industry in Western Australia

In 2007 and 2008 the Law and Sexual Health (LASH) study surveyed sex workers in commercial sex work businesses In Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Three capital cities were chosen for their different legal climates: Melbourne, where sex work is only decriminalised in licensed brothels (licensing), otherwise it remains illegal; Perth, where sex work remains criminalised; and Sydney, where most form of adult sex work are decriminalised, without licensing.

Through legal research we determined the laws and the level of policing of those laws in Victoria, WA, and NSW. We also mapped the female brothel-based sex industry in each city. Brothels were chosen at random, with a survey target of 200 sex workers in each city. Each brothel was repeated approached until every sex worker consented to participate or refused.  Each participating sex worker completed a questionnaire that was available in 4 languages.  Those women were then offered testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium infection, and trichomoniasis. Comparisons were made between cities.

Go to LASH Project