STAFF REPORTER

Licences will be handed out to madams and pimps but prostitution banned in all residential areas under legislation to be introduced to State Parliament today.

The Prostitution Bill 2011 seeks to regulate locations where prostitution will be allowed to occur and provide police with the clarity needed to respond to public complaints.

Attorney General Christian Porter said a small number of approved brothels in a small number of appropriately-located areas would be licensed, monitored and regulated.

Mr Porter said the Bill aimed to better protect women.

“Prostitution is a controversial issue for any government to address,” he said.

“No meaningful legislation will ever be perfectly satisfactory to all the competing viewpoints which exist.

“Overwhelmingly though, ordinary West (sic) Australians do not want prostitution businesses of any size near their homes, in their residential suburbs or near their children’s schools.”

Mr Porter said that any Member of Parliament who voted against the Bill would be “a vote for backyard brothels and the current uncertain, untenable situation”.

“This Bill is designed first and foremost to get prostitution out of the suburbs and to protect people’s homes,” he said.

“What this Bill will mean is if an illegal brothel is running from a house in your street, or next to your child’s school, police will have the power to shut that brothel down. “