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Your Obligations

Health and Safety

Some of your most important obligations relate to ensuring the health and safety of the sex workers operating in your business. Detailed information about sexual health matters can  be found at Victoria's Better Health Channel and through the Resourcing Health and Education (RhED) website.

Prostitution Regulations

For the latest information on some of the responsibilities and obligations of licensees and approved brothel managers under the Prostitution Control Regulations 2006 and the Prostitution Control Act 1994 read "A Guide to the Prostitution Control Regulations 2006 for Licensees and Approved Brothel Managers".

The Act and its regulations are designed to protect sex workers and members of the public by outlining how prostitution service providers must conduct business.If you are found to have breached regulatory requirements designed to protect sex workers; public health and safety; and public interest you will not only be at risk of prosecution but also loss of licence.

Licensed prostitution service providers should be familiar with all their obligations as a licensee, which can be found in the Prostitution Control Act 1994, the Prostitution Control Regulations 2006 and Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001. You should also read the recent amendments to the Act to learn your additional rights and responsibilities. Heavy penalties can apply for failure to adhere to the legal requirements.

Personal Supervision of Businesses

Brothels must be personally supervised by a licensee or an approved manager at all times when they are open for business. This means the licensee or an approved manager must be on the premises.

Failure to comply with this risks heavy fines or imprisonment for up to 12 months for both the licensee and the relevant approved manager.

Keeping the BLA Informed

There are several matters that you must inform the BLA about to avoid being in breach of the laws applying to you and your business. Go to the Maintaining Your Licence web page for details.

Regulator Powers

Victoria Police, Consumer Affairs Victoria and other regulatory authorities such as Work Safe can inspect a licensee's business operations and ask questions.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Victoria Police and authorised local government officers can bring prostitution service providers who breach legal requirements before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal which, among other options, can suspend or cancel a licence, and impose a fine.