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who partner to run a brothel, and replaces the genre’s 1RZ VKHpV PRUH VRFLDOO\ LVRODWHG WKDQ HYHU (YHQWXDOO\
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back, after she engaged in sex work with truckies on a 7KLV IRUP RI HPSOR\PHQW PD\ VXSSO\ %-pV LQFRPH EXW
dangerous highway. In the sequel, &NKCRSNMD (2016), the it’s tenuous and casual, lacking the stability of a known
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UDWH FRUUXSWLRQ ZLQGLQJO\ LQWHUVHFWV ZLWK WKH WUDIĺFNLQJ RI Moreover, a string of highly paid jobs is often what pushes
Chinese sex workers. her back towards a celebratory drug binge. In capturing
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documentary exposes how female backpackers forgo rights suggests that the line between exploitation and empower
and safety at work to be used as cheap labour at the local PHQW LV PXFK ĺQHU WKDQ ZKDW PXFK RI WKH QHZHU GLVFRXUVH
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themselves (in particular, the dangers of private escort work
versus the security of working in a brothel).
Tough lives, real people
The documentary builds to an unexpected type of
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professional relationships between Wotton and her cli – and becomes peripherally involved in a violent crime.
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girlfriend with whom he can share his feelings and thoughts. YDU\LQJ GHJUHHV RI VHOI GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RQ WKH SDUW RI WKH
o(YHU\RQH KDV D ULJKW WR VH[XDO H[SUHVVLRQ p VD\V :RWWRQ LQ working women.
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mentary has contributed to reframing the public conversa in 3GD /HMJ 'NTRD. The doco at once critiques the moral
tion about the important role that sex workers play in help hypocrisy that has consumed public discussions of the
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Australia. As the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that business interests. Though it complicates 2B@QKDS 1N@C’s
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supported urban sex worker presented in 2B@QKDS 1N@C.We VKDUHV WKLV HDUOLHU ĺOPpV PLVVLRQ RI KXPDQLVLQJ UDWKHU WKDQ
learn that her entry into the industry wasn’t by choice: she judging: of providing an empathetic viewpoint – through
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2
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involvement in the sex industry has been punctuated with is morally shady, instead shining a light on the individual
breakdowns as she deals with drug use, her childhood trau ZRPHQ ZKR ZRUN LQ LW DQG}VXUYLYH
mas and the loss of four children.
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PDVVLYH DQG VXGGHQ IDOOLQJ DZD\ ZKHQ VKH GHFLGHV WR OHDYH and the author of Not at a Cinema Near You: Australia’s Film
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she advertises in the local newspaper, takes bookings on
her mobile phone and visits men wherever they are, often Endnotes
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WLYH FOLHQWV o,pP DQ ROGHU ZRPDQ IRUW\ ĺYH \HDUV ROG YHU\ Reform for Western Australia -DQXDU\ S DYDLODEOH
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less cause to worry about men ‘getting away with things’. D QXPEHU RI WLPHV LQ WKH ŷOP WR EULQJ WKLV SRLQW KRPH

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