The claims by the Adult Business Association (ABA - the group of "legal" brothels) and councils are ridiculous. Sex work is legal in NSW. The real issue is that councils draft regulations that make it as difficult and expensive as possible to qualify to run a brothel, and then refuse the development application (DA) even when someone meets the criteria, forcing them to go to the land and environment court.

The reality is that this is a case of bad laws. Most "illegal brothels" are actually sex workers working alone, from home. Any sex work premises is called a "brothel" by councils. The requirements generally include demanding sex workers working from home put signs on their fences and apply for DAs. Private sex workers aren't about to do that, and most of their neighbours never know that they see clients, since neither the clients or the workers want to be noticed.

What all this is really about is the owners and managers of the big brothels simply want to stamp out competition. They want all sex workers to have to work for them. Councils pursuing their anti-sex work policies are working hand in glove with these big brothel czars, whether or not they realise it.

Decriminalisation was meant to stop the stigma that prevent sex workers from claiming abuse. Council policies create a restrictive environment where most workers working for themselves cannot meet requirements. This creates a climate of fear that leaves ordinary sex workers afraid to complain, becasue of just the sort of targetting of so-called "illegal" work that your articles describes. Private workers, and small, cooperative brothels are generally better and cleaner than the big "approved" brothels. They just don't have the money to fight (or bribe) councils. The other difference is they are usually much better for workers, in terms of condiitons and money.

What this is about is simply councils and big-money brothel owners trying to use the law to control and exploit sex workers.

Sonja Teri

Link to article this letter is responding to.