Ipswich braces for backlash over new sex worker laws

A southeast Queensland council has raised concerns about new laws allowing brothels near schools, churches, and in residential areas, with reduced local controls and planning oversight.

Ipswich City Council is concerned about backlash over new sex worker laws. Picture: File photo.

A southeast Queensland council is bracing for “significant pushback” from residents over new sex worker laws, which allow brothels to operate next to schools and churches and in residential areas.

Ipswich City Council has called for a report into how the state legislation will affect the patrol of brothels after a reduction in local controls over where sex work can take place.

Under the new legislation, which commended on August 2, local councils can no longer impose specific distance requirements or use planning codes to regulate the location of brothels.

The new laws also reclassify sex work as a regular business activity subject to general business regulations and operating hours.

The council also highlighted issues related to home-based sex work.

Previously, any business operating from a residential property with more than one non-resident worker triggered a planning assessment.

Inside one of Brisbane’s legal brothels. Picture: The Courier-Mail

However, the new rules permit home-based sex work with one additional non-resident worker without the need for a formal application to the council, provided the business sticks to standard business hours.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully said the shift in law could potentially allow sex work businesses to operate closer to sensitive locations, such as schools and places of worship, which he expected would raise community concerns.

He said the legislation also failed to allow residents the right to object if a brothel extends its trading hours.

“Operators can make an application to extend the hours of operation which are not subjected to any formal objection rights or appeals to the Planning and Environment Court,” Cr Tully said.

“It is important that communities have a lawful say and lawfully have the right to appeal to the planning and environment court.

“The other issue is advertising and even though we can have standard advertising requirements on the number of signs outside a business, the actual wording on the signs is not something that the council normally drills down on.”

Mayor Teresa Harding said she expected to receive “significant” complaints.

“In the past four years, we have had significant pushback from residents if there is a childcare centre set up in a residential area or the alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre – so I expect … we will get significant pushback.”

Cr Tully said he would consider adding to the request for a report before next week’s full council meeting.

In 2022, three sex workers and a brothel owner pleaded guilty to a range of charges related to sex work at an Ipswich “massage business”.

All four were fined a total of $1600 and no convictions were recorded.