COLIN Barnett has promised to scrap WA's controversial prostitution laws.

The Opposition Leader said yesterday he would not allow brothels to spread across suburbs. He intended to regulate the industry by licensing brothels in designated areas.

Labor's laws shifted responsibility to councils to determine brothel applications.

``If elected, a Liberal government will repeal the Prostitution Amendment Bill 2007,'' Mr Barnett said.

``A Liberal government will not allow the spreading of brothels throughout the suburbs and towns of WA.''

Mr Barnett and Opposition police spokesman Rob Johnson have been calling for changes to WA's new prostitution laws for months.

Mr Johnson says councils will be powerless to stop sex houses in residential areas.

In parliament last year Mr Barnett said: ``There are 144 local authorities in WA. How are they equipped to handle this industry and the sorts of issues that will arise? If anything, local government will be more susceptible to corruption, political pressure and pressure on planning.

``It is more likely to be susceptible to the funding of campaigns or even trying to get people who are sympathetic to, or pro-brothels or prostitution, elected to local government.''

Mr Johnson said only a few designated areas would be allowed in WA.

``We can't afford mini-brothels operating in residential areas where you have men coming and going all the time to satisfy their sexual pleasures,'' he said.

``Legalising brothels hasn't worked in the east. Since legalising brothels, there has been a proliferation of legal and illegal brothels.''

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