"Sex workers have proactively responded to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, ceasing work, adapting work practices and employing risk mitigation strategies," Scarlet Alliance CEO Jules Kim said in a statement.

"We have a long history of effectively and responsibly responding to public health threats, as shown by sex workers' effective response to BBV [blood bourne viruses], including HIV and STIs and in our response to COVID-19."

Ms Kim responded to a Canberra Times article this week, in which Langtrees brothel owner Aaron Jones said that Canberra sex workers booking services through online platforms and operating out of private premises in Woden, Gungahlin, Belconnen and Civic would not be using traceable QR entry codes and other mechanisms which could help trace customers.

Independent and brothel-based sex workers have demonstrated compliance with changing health directives throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Scarlet Alliance and Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP) ACT said.

They have adapted "work practices to incorporate COVID Safety Plans and mitigate risk, expand on usual contact tracing and record-keeping systems, and use networks to organise and support other workers in our work for our collective health and safety" the statement said.

"The result is that sex workers have complied with state, territory and federal directives and, subsequently, not featured as sites of transmission."

Sienna, an independent sex worker in the ACT, said that while independent sex workers are able to generate QR codes for the Check in CBR app: "the vast majority of our clients, probably for discretion needs, don't particularly like the idea of having that in their check-in history."

"I've definitely been asking clients when they make a booking: if they have travelled interstate recently [and] if they've been in any areas that are in lockdown?" she said.

"If I'm going to them it's: are you in isolation? Are you permitted to receive visitors?

"And I obviously retain their details in case I'm contacted by contact tracers."

Some sex workers have previously voiced concerns about mandated use of the Check in CBR app due to privacy reasons.

Ms Kim said that "the inappropriate media reporting, scapegoating and the rush to blame sex work" during the coronavirus pandemic had increased stigma and discrimination against sex workers.

The impact of lockdowns on sex workers have been severe, the groups said.

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"Sex workers who are able to access government financial support have been doing so and it has provided much-needed relief. Unfortunately, many sex workers are unable to access the much-needed support."

Scarlet Alliance launched an Emergency Relief Fund to help fund sex workers, but "public donations flowing into this fund is not able to reach all the applicants applying each week and this is a call for more donations" they said.

They also urged the government to adequately fund sex worker peer organisations, who provide essential services for sex workers.

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