ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury will bring forward a bill to rename the Prostitution Act 1992 to the Sex Work Act 1992 to reduce stigma for the industry.

The bill would also remove registration requirements for sole operators, and require brothel operators to provide sex workers with appropriate personal protective and safety equipment - including condoms, dams and sponges - free of charge.

It would also allow people with sexually transmitted infections to provide or receive commercial sex services as long as they take precautions to stop transmission or infection.

Mr Rattenbury said while the regulation of sex work was a controversial issue, the territory government was committed to a "progressive and socially responsible" approach to the commercial sex industry.

“Sex work is a valid occupation and sex workers are entitled to the same protection of their health, safety and
rights without discrimination as any other profession," Mr Rattenbury said.

AIDS Action Council executive director Philippa Moss said sex workers needed protective equipment to do their jobs safely, but at the moment establishments charged workers for its provision.

"They're tools of the trade essentially," she said. "Establishments have an obligation under work, health and safety to provide this equipment, it's best practice but it's never been spelled out in law."

Ms Moss said allowing people with sexually transmitted infections to be a sex worker or customer was targeted at removing discriminatory provisions that stopped people with HIV giving or receiving services.

"Whilst HIV is classified as an STI, in not allowing HIV-positive people to see sex workers or undertake sex work ignores the fact condoms and safe sex prevents the transmission of HIV," Ms Moss said.

"There's also extensive evidence people with HIV on antiretroviral treatments cannot transmit diseases. The rights of HIV-positive workers is just one of a series of long overdue reforms."

Ms Moss also praised the move away from the word prostitute, which she described as a "pejorative term that did not reflect the professional description of the work being done".

However the AIDS Council had advocated for changes in the laws that would allow sole operators to work in pairs.

Ms Moss said the changes became necessary after a string of horrific attacks on sex workers in 2016.

She said she was disappointed these changes had not been included in the bill, but the council would continue pushing for them.