THE West Australian government plans to decriminalise prostitution as part of a bid to regulate the industry.

WA Attorney-General Jim McGinty says he will introduce legislation into state parliament this year which would allow brothels to operate legally.

Mr McGinty said the move would protect the health and safety of sex workers and provide clarity for police.

"It is time we sorted out the prostitution laws in WA to deal properly with the sex industry, which has been a reality of life for a long, long time,'' Mr McGinty said.

He said the government had begun drafting legislation based on the recommendations of the Prostitution Law Reform Working Group.

The group recommended a decriminalised model, where approved operators of brothels and escort agencies would be regulated under a certification system.

Brothels would also be subject to to local government planning approvals and controls.

"This will mean that for the first time, local councils and the WA Planning Commission can control where brothels are located and ensure they are not operating in inappropriate areas,'' Mr McGinty said.

Regulation of brothels would also remove the risk of police corruption in the industry, he said.

Currently, prostitution is not prohibited but it is illegal to manage a brothel and live off the earnings of prostitution.

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