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HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORKING GROUP The University of ... Flipbook PDF
2 THE first Asian brothel in Cairns will be ``closely scrutinised'' as part of an ongoing monitoring program to
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORKING GROUP Professor Andreas Schloenhardt, TC Beirne School of Law
The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia www.law.uq.edu.au/humantrafficking
NEWS REPORT Headline/Title
Portsmith brothel monitored for human trafficking
Reported in
The Cairns Post
Date of publication
October 1, 2013
Place of publication
Cairns
Author
Bianca Keegan
Page
1
Copyright
© 2013 News Limited
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THE first Asian brothel in Cairns will be ``closely scrutinised'' as part of an ongoing monitoring program to prevent human trafficking in Queensland brothels, according to the recently released annual report from the Prostitution Licensing Authority (PLA). Oriental Doll is an exclusive Asian brothel which opened in Portsmith in May. According to its website, the legally-operated business which is located in an industrial estate, offers “a myriad beautiful girls”. The business was identified in the latest PLA report as one of the types of brothels it intends to monitor because it predominantly hires sex workers of Asian background and is the first brothel of its type to be located outside southeast Queensland. “The PLA recognises the greater potential for human trafficking for the purpose of sexual servitude at these brothels,” the report states. Despite stating there would be “close scrutiny” of the brothel, there is no suggestion in the report that Oriental Doll has been involved in any wrongdoing. “During the year, there were no complaints about organised crime, official corruption, or human trafficking (in Queensland),” Chair of the PLA Manus Boyce said. Oriental Doll manager Michael Shen said the business met all current Australian regulations and confirmed the PLA had visited the brothel twice this year. He said most of the women who were hired at Oriental Doll rang for work, because the business was not permitted to advertise. “The government is very strict . . . When the working girls come here, they have to have a working visa and a sexual health certificate,” he said. Mr Shen said he wasn't worried about authorities monitoring the business, saying “it protects the girls” who often came to work in Cairns from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan. He also showed The Cairns Post multilingual signage in the brothel which had contact numbers for the workers if they believed they were being extorted. “It says if you work in this industry, you must get paid. “All our girls are very young and beautiful. Every two weeks they change - the clients want to see new faces.” Cairns MP Gavin King said human trafficking was a global problem and was “disturbed” Cairns had been pinpointed in the report to be monitored for any potential problems. “I think it has been a global problem for many years, these reports are very disturbing,” he said. “It has always been a concern that comes and goes . . . It's disturbing and worrying.” Cairns Councillor Richie Bates said he had not received any complaints about the Owen Close business. “This is the first time it has been brought to my attention,” he said. “We'll treat it very seriously.”
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Thirty-six brothels operate in Queensland including two in Cairns. In the 12 months to June 30, 2013, the cash flow within the businesses are estimated to be more than $1.1 million The PLA report also revealed there were 38 complaints relating to prostitution across Queensland which have been passed to Brisbane's Prostitution Enforcement Taskforce in the Queensland Police Service. Most complaints related to illegal prostitution activities and seven were received about the operation of licensed brothels. THE FACTS l 24 licensed brothels operating in Queensland. l 43 brothel licence applications including seven new applications. l 38 police entries made to 19 licensed brothels. l 38 complaints relating to prostitution, down from 46 the previous year (figures 6, 7, and 8). l There have been no complaints in respect of licensed brothel impact on community amenity in the 13-year history of the PLA. l 197 compliance activities, resulting in 132 corrective actions and 50 recommendations for improvements to brothel operations. Source: Prostitution Licensing Authority 2012-13 annual report.
An electronic copy of this document is available at www.law.uq.edu.au/humantrafficking.