Operations and Monitoring of a Brothel
Commencement of operations
An applicant licensee having achieved:
- Development Approval from local authority
- granting of a licence to operate a brothel, and
- progress towards the appropriate fit out of a suitable premises,
can then look forward to the establishment of business procedures, issuing of the licence and commencement of operations of the brothel.
Conditions of licence and conditions of a manager's certificate
The granted Licence is issued upon opening of the brothel. Each brothel licence (
77 KB) and manager's certificate (
14 KB) has attached to it a number of conditions which must be complied with.
Monitoring
Operations and monitoring of licensed brothels are regulated by the PLA through the Prostitution Act 1999, Prostitution Regulation 2000 and Conditions placed upon each licence. Other government departmental controls will also apply as required.
The main areas to be considered in the operations of any licensed brothel include but are not limited to:
- financial and business operations
- employment of staff and engagement of sex workers
- Workplace Health and Safety
- sexual health management.
To prepare for the coordination of these operations licensees are required to develop an operation plan which can be further developed into specific policies and procedures. Further information is available from the resource Guidelines for the Development of Polices and Procedures in Licensed Brothels ( 54 KB).
Compliance
The PLA monitors the provision of prostitution through licensed brothels in Queensland. The PLA may also conduct disciplinary inquiries in relation to licensees and managers and receive complaints about prostitution.
Monitoring by the PLA is largely achieved through its compliance function which includes audits and inspections of licensed brothels and assessment of ongoing business operations.
Audits and inspections are conducted by Compliance Officers who will attend the brothel on occasions each year. For example:
- A pre opening inspection will occur prior to opening of the brothel and issuing of the licence to ensure that the brothel is suitably prepared and equipped for business
- Compliance officers will conduct a renewal audit and report to the PLA as part of the licence renewal process
- At other times during the year.
Audits and inspections provide an assessment of the brothel against audit criteria and provide an opportunity for licensees and managers to discuss any matters with the Compliance Officers to assist them to meet their responsibilities under the legislation and brothel licence conditions ( 77 KB).
Guidelines for the Operation of Licensed Brothels in Queensland
The PLA has developed the document Guidelines for the Operation of Licensed Brothels in Queensland. These provide brothel licensees and approved managers with a set of best practice guidelines for a safe and healthy environment for sex workers, employees, clients and visitors and also provide information to support operations in line with the brothel licence conditions.
The Guidelines have been prepared in consultation with a wide range of agencies, with many people contributing to the final outcome. The Guidelines are provided once a person has been granted a brothel licence. Responsibility for the implementation of these Guidelines rests with brothel licensees and their managers.
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