Drunk men have been lurching into the headquarters of Queensland’s Prostitution Licensing Authority and demanding prostitutes.
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 11:49:35 -0800
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Subject: 200 metres!
http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/2002/01/04/FFXN6I063TC.html
BRISBANE, Jan 4 AAP|Published: Friday January 4, 6:02 PM
Drunk men have been lurching into the headquarters of Queensland’s Prostitution Licensing Authority and demanding prostitutes.
The unwelcome men triggered a security overhaul of the authority, it was revealed today.
Police Minister Tony McGrady said “intoxicated or undesirable males” had regularly turned up at the Prostitution Licensing Authority’s office looking for some action.
Some of the men wanted to hire a prostitute and others were looking for their partners, who they believed worked as prostitutes.
“Some of these males refused to leave the premises and caused minor disturbances,” Mr McGrady said in response to a question on notice.
The incidents happened when the Prostitution Licensing Authority first moved into their offices in suburban Milton 18 months ago.
Mr McGrady confirmed the Milton offices had been upgraded before the Prostitution Licensing Authority moved in, on the advice of state government security experts.
The office had duress alarms, intercom facilities, a fireproof safe and was soundproofed.
Access to the offices through the roof was also sealed off.
The Prostitution Licensing Authority was set up in July 2000 to process the license applications for “boutique” brothels and monitor the legalised sex industry.
Queensland so far only has one legal brothel, operating in the inner-city Brisbane suburb of Bowen Hills.
The authority has approved a further three brothels, two in industrial areas of the Gold Coast and another in the southside Brisbane suburb of Yeerongpilly.
Last month, authority chairman Bill Carter said the he was also considering applications for brothels in Townsville, Mackay, the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and Brisbane.
Under state law, legal brothels must not have more than five rooms or employ more than five sex workers.
They must also be at least 200 metres from schools, churches, homes, hospitals and child-minding facilities.
By Barbara Adam