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Prostitution Service Providers

In Victoria, prostitution services are regulated by the Prostitution Control Act 1994, the Prostitution Control Regulations 2006 and the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001.

Prostitution Service Providers

Prostitution is the provision by one person to or for someone else of sexual services in return for payment or reward.

A prostitution service provider is a person carrying on business of a kind referred to as a brothel and/or an escort agency.

To operate a brothel and/or escort agency business in Victoria, you must be either:

• licensed as a prostitution service provider; or
• registered yourself as being exempt from requiring a licence.

Licences are not transferrable from another person to you and cannot be "lent" to you. You can only rely upon a licence to carry on business as a prostitution service provider if you have your own. 

Exempt Prostitution Service Providers

If only one or two people wish to work as prostitutes in their own small owner operated escort agency or brothel business and not employ other prostitutes, they can claim an exemption from the requirement to be licensed.

If you are exempt from requiring a licence, you must still register with the BLA before commencing business. There is no fee to register as an exempt prostitution service provider.

Brothel Managers

You cannot manage a brothel unless you have been approved by the BLA. Note that at all times when trading, all brothels must be supervised by the licensed to operate the brothel prostitution service provider or a currently approved manager employed by the licensee.

Penalties

Unless exempt under the Prostitution Control Act 1994, prostitution service providers who trade without a licence risk:

• a fine of  up to $70,092.00 and/or
• five years imprisonment

Failure to register as an exempt prostitution service provider before providing sexual services yourself in your own business can result in significant fines.

Failure to ensure a brothel is either personally supervised by the licensee or an approved brothel manager at all times when open for business risks very significant fines and/or up to 12 months imprisonment.