Prostitution in Oceania varies greatly across the region. In American Samoa, for instance, prostitution is illegal, whereas in New Zealand most aspects of the trade are decriminalised.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia
Prostitution in Australia is governed by state and territory laws, which vary considerably; child prostitution, sex trafficking and sex slavery are prohibited by Federal legislation throughout Australia, and of Australian citizens and residents outside of the country. The territories laws on escort services and brothels vary.
The most liberal regime is in New South Wales. It has been used as a model for other jurisdictions such as New Zealand.
The legal situation in the various states are: Australian Capital Territory - Prostitution is legal and regulated, as are brothels and escort agencies. Solicitation is illegal and condoms are mandatory. New South Wales - Prostitution is legal and regulated. Brothels need to be registered and are regulated. Soliciting is restricted with certain areas, such as near schools and churches, prohibited. Northern Territory - Prostitution is legal. Escort agencies are legal and regulated. Solicitation and brothels are illegal. Queensland - Prostitution is legal. Brothels are legal and regulated. Solicitation is illegal. Condoms are mandatory. South Australia - Prostitution is legal but related activities such as procuring, living off the earnings of prostitution, keeping a brothel and solicitation are illegal. Tasmania - Prostitution is legal. Solicitation and brothels are illegal. Condoms are mandatory. Victoria - Prostitution is legal and regulated, as are brothels and escort agencies. Solicitation is illegal. Condoms are mandatory. Western Australia - Prostitution is legal, but solicitation, living off the earnings of prostitution and brothel keeping are outlawed. The use of condoms is mandatory.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands were, like Christmas Island, a British colony and part of the Colony of Singapore. After transfer of sovereignty to Australia in 1955, Singapore's colonial law was still in force on the islands until 1992. The Territories Law Reform Act 1992 made Australian federal law and the state laws of Western Australia applicable to the islands.
Prostitution is legal, but solicitation, living off the earnings of prostitution and brothel keeping are outlawed. The use of condoms is mandatory.
Christmas Island
Christmas Island is a former British colony, which was administered as part of the Colony of Singapore. The laws of Singapore, including prostitution law, were based on British law. in 1958, the sovereignty of the island was transferred to Australia. The "laws of the Colony of Singapore" continued to be the law of the territory. The Territories Law Reform Act 1992 decreed that Australian federal law and the state laws of Western Australia be applicable to the Indian Ocean Territories, of which Christmas Island is a part.
Prostitution is legal, but solicitation, living off the earnings of prostitution and brothel keeping are outlawed. The use of condoms is mandatory.
New Zealand
In 2003, the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act decriminalized sex work. Prostitution (sex work), brothel keeping, living off the proceeds of someone else's prostitution and street solicitation are legal in New Zealand. Brothels need to be registered. The use of condoms is mandatory. Coercion of sex workers is illegal.
Often, when other countries discuss their future prostitution policy, the "New Zealand Model" is put forward as an example of decriminalisation. Now that sex work is legal, New Zealand has begun to actively work to tear down stigmas and make sex work a safe option.
Norfolk Island
Previously a self-governing Australian territory, the Norfolk Island Applied Laws Ordinance 2016 applied Australian federal law and the state laws of New South Wales to Norfolk Island.
Prostitution is legal and regulated. Brothels need to registered and are regulated. Soliciting is restricted with certain areas, such as near schools and churches, prohibited.
Melanesia
Fiji
Prostitution in Fiji is legal, but most activities connected with it are illegal: brothel keeping, procuring and buying or selling sex in public. The Crimes Decree 2009 sets out the legislation regarding sex work and replaces the provisions of the earlier Penal Code. Since the new legislation there has been increased enforcement, especially towards street workers and their clients. Street workers make up the bulk of Fiji's prostitutes. Child trafficking is a problem and many foundations are urging Fiji to crack down on child trafficking.