Victorian call on brothels

Press, 9 November 1983, Page 8

Victorian call on brothels

NZPA Melbourne A report to the Victorian Government recommends prostitution in legal brothels be decriminalised and massage parlours be made legal dand called brothels. The report by a ninemember working party, including an unnamed representative from the massage parlour industry, was released yesterday by the Planning and Environment Minister, Mr Evan Walker. He said that he expected the report would be controversial and provoke widespread public comment. Mr Walker said the state Cabinet would consider the report’s recommendations, along with public consent,

and make up its mind on the recommendations next year at the earliest.

It is the Australian Labour Party’s policy to decriminalise prostitution.

The report recommended local governments should be the key in deciding where brothels should be located in their areas and the word brothel should appear in planning schemes. The report was prepared by representatives of various government departments and the Municipal Association of Victoria. There are 149 recognised massage parlours in Victoria, and most of them are brothels operating illegally. Most brothels are in Mel-

bourne, with up to 40 in three adjacent buildings in St Kilda alone. The report noted that of the 142 submissions there was “a significant degree of public hostility to the concept that massage parlours (brothels) be officially recognised as a legitimate and legal land use.” Victoria’s massage parlour industry has grown from a mere 25 establishments to the present figure in less than 10 years.

The main recommendations of the working party include:

• The name “brothel” be used and applied generally instead of "massage parlour” and the definition of a brothel be “a brothel is any

building or part of any building or site visited by people for the purpose of prostitution.” • The Victorian Government should accept that brothels are a legitimate land use within planning schemes.

• Local government should decide where a brothel should be located. • Prostitution should not be a criminal act in a brothel in respect of which there is a valid town planning permit.

• there should not be any “red light” zone or district. • Brothels should be prohibited absolutely in residential zones. ■ 9