Published Monday, 13 October, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Spence: Cabinet endorses tougher approach to illegal prostitution
Cabinet today endorsed tough new measures aimed at tightening legislation surrounding illegal prostitution escort services, and confirmed the Government will continue to reject any call for organised outcall prostitution escort services.
In response to the CMC’s report “Regulating Outcall Prostitution: should legal outcall prostitution services be extended to licensed brothels and independent escort services?”, Police Minister Judy Spence said cabinet supported all 23 of the CMC’s recommendations.
Ms Spence said: “The Government has supported all 23 of the CMC’s recommendations aimed at tightening legislation surrounding loopholes that have previously been exploited by people who have acted as pimps and workers running illegal prostitution escort services.
“We have never supported organised illegal prostitution escort services for prostitution and we will take whatever means necessary to crack down on any person who operates organised outcall prostitution escort services in Queensland.
“I will introduce legislation to prohibit any person advertising as a ‘social escort’ when they are, in effect, a front for illegal organised prostitution escort services,” Ms Spence said.
“Presently there no restrictions on the advertising of social escorts and this loophole is exploited by illegal prostitution escorts.
“In future, social escorts must clearly say when people call, that their services are non-sexual or that sexual services are not provided.
“This change will make it more difficult for illegal prostitution providers to pose as social escorts.
“We will also strengthen the Prostitution Act so that no one, including sole operators, can disguise the fact they are offering prostitution. Terms such as ‘escorts’ and ‘skin shops’ will not be able to be used as euphemisms for prostitution.
“There will be an expanded role for the Prostitution Licensing Authority to crack down on this type of advertising.”
Ms Spence said any legitimate person or club that was a social escort service would not be affected.
“Legitimate social escorts for people such as ‘over-50s’ and people with common interests will not be affected by the legislation change and they will be able to continue to advertise for members.
“What the CMC found, however, is that these clubs are in the minority when it comes to social escorts advertising,” Ms Spence said.
“The Government will also create a new offence called ‘carrying on the business of prostitution’.
“This will carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. This is increased to 14 years if it is found the offenders are using intellectually impaired people,” Ms Spence said.
The Government will also introduce legislation to further regulate the advertising of legal prostitution and to seize the assets of any person or person involved in illegal prostitution.
“We will seize the assets of any person who seeks to exploit others by operating an illegal prostitution escort business.”
“We will also make it an offence to be a client or employee of an illegal escort business and provide for a person to receive a certificate of discharge to give evidence against sex king pins.
“This will serve to break the code of silence that sometimes envelops the illegal prostitution escort industry,” Ms Spence said.
“The Queensland Police Service will develop new protocols to work with telecommunication carriers who breach prostitution advertising guidelines, so that advertised telephone numbers can be ‘deactivated’ if they are found to be used by illegal businesses,” Ms Spence said.
The Government will also amend the Criminal Code to allow legal sole operators to have one employee who acts as a receptionist and/or driver.
“This will ensure the safety of the sole operator who works in the legal industry,” Ms Spence said.
“Legislation to enact these amendments will now be drafted and introduced into Parliament next year.”
Media contact: 3239 6218
13 October 2008
In response to the CMC’s report “Regulating Outcall Prostitution: should legal outcall prostitution services be extended to licensed brothels and independent escort services?”, Police Minister Judy Spence said cabinet supported all 23 of the CMC’s recommendations.
Ms Spence said: “The Government has supported all 23 of the CMC’s recommendations aimed at tightening legislation surrounding loopholes that have previously been exploited by people who have acted as pimps and workers running illegal prostitution escort services.
“We have never supported organised illegal prostitution escort services for prostitution and we will take whatever means necessary to crack down on any person who operates organised outcall prostitution escort services in Queensland.
“I will introduce legislation to prohibit any person advertising as a ‘social escort’ when they are, in effect, a front for illegal organised prostitution escort services,” Ms Spence said.
“Presently there no restrictions on the advertising of social escorts and this loophole is exploited by illegal prostitution escorts.
“In future, social escorts must clearly say when people call, that their services are non-sexual or that sexual services are not provided.
“This change will make it more difficult for illegal prostitution providers to pose as social escorts.
“We will also strengthen the Prostitution Act so that no one, including sole operators, can disguise the fact they are offering prostitution. Terms such as ‘escorts’ and ‘skin shops’ will not be able to be used as euphemisms for prostitution.
“There will be an expanded role for the Prostitution Licensing Authority to crack down on this type of advertising.”
Ms Spence said any legitimate person or club that was a social escort service would not be affected.
“Legitimate social escorts for people such as ‘over-50s’ and people with common interests will not be affected by the legislation change and they will be able to continue to advertise for members.
“What the CMC found, however, is that these clubs are in the minority when it comes to social escorts advertising,” Ms Spence said.
“The Government will also create a new offence called ‘carrying on the business of prostitution’.
“This will carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. This is increased to 14 years if it is found the offenders are using intellectually impaired people,” Ms Spence said.
The Government will also introduce legislation to further regulate the advertising of legal prostitution and to seize the assets of any person or person involved in illegal prostitution.
“We will seize the assets of any person who seeks to exploit others by operating an illegal prostitution escort business.”
“We will also make it an offence to be a client or employee of an illegal escort business and provide for a person to receive a certificate of discharge to give evidence against sex king pins.
“This will serve to break the code of silence that sometimes envelops the illegal prostitution escort industry,” Ms Spence said.
“The Queensland Police Service will develop new protocols to work with telecommunication carriers who breach prostitution advertising guidelines, so that advertised telephone numbers can be ‘deactivated’ if they are found to be used by illegal businesses,” Ms Spence said.
The Government will also amend the Criminal Code to allow legal sole operators to have one employee who acts as a receptionist and/or driver.
“This will ensure the safety of the sole operator who works in the legal industry,” Ms Spence said.
“Legislation to enact these amendments will now be drafted and introduced into Parliament next year.”
Media contact: 3239 6218
13 October 2008