Mrs Roberts questions the Premier on the government's stance on illegal brothels and massage parlours, given the shift away from a containment policy. The Premier's response defends the government's actions and criticises the Opposition's delay in supporting relevant legislation.

AnsweredQoN 6Legislative Assembly
Asked
8 August 2000
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is it the Government's policy to support an increase in the number of illegal brothels and massage parlours operating in Western Australia? (2) If not, how does the Premier propose to stop new brothels and massage parlours from opening following the decision to abandon the containment policy and prosecute only establishments in which there is evidence of drugs, alcohol, children, illegal immigrants or organised crime? Mr COURT

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) That list sounds like a good start to me. It took this Government nearly a year to get the Opposition's support for legislation to control streetwalkers and children operating in brothels. No country in the world has been able to come up with legislation that effectively outlaws and controls this activity. The increased powers that this Government has given to the Police Service will effectively control street prostitution. It is a pity it took so long for those laws to be passed through this place.
(2) If not, how does the Premier propose to stop new brothels and massage parlours from opening following the decision to abandon the containment policy and prosecute only establishments in which there is evidence of drugs, alcohol, children, illegal immigrants or organised crime? Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) That list sounds like a good start to me. It took this Government nearly a year to get the Opposition's support for legislation to control streetwalkers and children operating in brothels. No country in the world has been able to come up with legislation that effectively outlaws and controls this activity. The increased powers that this Government has given to the Police Service will effectively control street prostitution. It is a pity it took so long for those laws to be passed through this place.
Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) That list sounds like a good start to me. It took this Government nearly a year to get the Opposition's support for legislation to control streetwalkers and children operating in brothels. No country in the world has been able to come up with legislation that effectively outlaws and controls this activity. The increased powers that this Government has given to the Police Service will effectively control street prostitution. It is a pity it took so long for those laws to be passed through this place.
(1)-(2) That list sounds like a good start to me. It took this Government nearly a year to get the Opposition's support for legislation to control streetwalkers and children operating in brothels. No country in the world has been able to come up with legislation that effectively outlaws and controls this activity. The increased powers that this Government has given to the Police Service will effectively control street prostitution. It is a pity it took so long for those laws to be passed through this place.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more