On this episode Sasja talked to Maryann Phoenix, a former sex worker and political activist from the 80’s on sex work decriminalisation in Victoria, Maryaan's involment in her activism in the early 80's for sex workers and hiv & aids movement, her experinces in the early days illegal brothel work and sex workers rights.

Maryaan was one of the founding members of the Prostitutes Collective of Victoria, a peer support organisation for sex workers set up in 1984. Negotiated State Funding for the Prostitutes Collective of Victoria to provide peer education to sex workers, drop- in centre and the first needle exchange in St Kilda at the onset of the AIDS pandemic

Maryann is also a member of the Victorian State Government Prostitution Advisory Committee convened as requirement of the legalisation of the sex industry in Victoria in 1984. Employed by the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union to organise the Victorian sex industry. First trade union in the world to represent and accept sex workers as members in 1994.

Maryann Phoenix successfully supported sex workers in unfair dismissal claims in the Industrial Relations Commission