A patchwork of differing state laws has left many sex workers facing discrimination from banks and other financial providers.
The humiliation dragged on into 2022, when Mint sent another letter to Mr Roberts, indicating its denial came down to the banking institution that facilitated its back-end transactions, which it had recently switched. Matthew, an advocate for sex worker rights, had been one of the people cheering on these changes in the public gallery of state parliament.Mr Robert's case was settled out of court, but still managed to change how financial service providers engage with Victorian sex workers.Maurice Blackburn's lawyers knew they potentially could set a new precedent when Mr Roberts walked into the national law firm's Melbourne office to discuss his EFTPOS rejection.
Mint said it had no comment, besides that it complied with the rules of its acquiring partners, while FISERV told ABC News that it was "pleased to have reached an agreement" with Mr Roberts. Its been mostly welcomed, however, some conservative groups such as the Australian Christian Lobby say the only winners will be "pimps and brothel owners".
The latest example was 12 months ago, when Ms Kenworthy says they were dropped by the global credit card provider Amex due to an unproven allegation that Langtrees Perth was at risk of stolen card use from clients. "They've got the deposit, they've got tax paid on sex income, and the bank's not recognising the sex income as legitimate income."Ms Kenworthy "blames the government first and foremost" for this "horrendous" situation, and believes it is on policymakers to make it easier for sex industry professionals and financial service providers to do business together.