Ipswich moves to stop ‘lunchtime brothel specials’ in corner stores

A southeast Queensland council has moved to stop brothel ‘lunchtime specials’ being advertised on billboards after state legislation this month legalised prostitution.

Ipswich Council is concerned about prolific lunch time special advertising for brothels in the area.

A southeast council is begging the state government to close loopholes in recently approved laws that allow brothels to operate and advertise in residential areas, corner stores and shopping centres.

Ipswich City Council will write to Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon with its concerns that the city’s many former corner stores could start advertising “lunchtime specials” on outdoor billboards after state legislation this month legalised home-based prostitution.

Under the legislation, which came into effect across the state on August 2, brothels can open in any area zoned for commercial purposes.

In residential areas, a house can be used by a single sex worker and one nonresident.

The council moved to try to close loopholes which would allow legal brothels to advertise using salacious signs such as “lunchtime specials”; “Two-for-One Tuesdays” or “Happy Hour Discounts”.

Brothels are now legally able to operate in Queensland.

However, officers told Thursday's meeting that any changes to the laws to curb the legal prostitution rules would have to apply to all home-based industries.

Officers said the council would have control over the size of the billboards but not the content.

Last week, the council heard that residents in Silkstone had complained to councillors about topless women sitting outside a former corner store, now legally operating as a brothel.

Councillor Paul Tully said the state legislation allowed brothels to open next to churches and schools and to advertise on outdoor billboards, near schools and churches.

He said under the new rules, brothels could also apply to the council for extended trading hours and residents could lodge complaints, but officers had no powers to regulate.

“Councils are unable to refuse or restrict such establishments other than having planning controls which apply to all business users,” he said.

“Under the new legislation such home-based businesses do not require public notification and residents have no formal right of objection in the Planning and Environment Court.

“Any applications to vary the hours of operation of between 7am and 6pm Monday to Saturday go to the council officers but the public has no formal right of objection.

“There have already been complaints from residents about topless prostitutes sitting at the back of a premises.

“There is nothing stopping a brothel opening at Orion Shopping Centre or Indooroopilly Shopping Town but councils do need to be able to patrol the industry.

“They are now being treated as legitimate businesses so we could even expect they might join the Chamber of Commerce.”

Mayor Teresa Harding said she was concerned about the safety of women after the council was told police would no longer have to patrol legal brothels.

The council will also express its concerns about the loopholes in letters to other local politicians.