Paper Petition

The petition of citizens of Queensland draws to the attention of the House, the uncontrolled proliferation of street based sex workers who solicit for the purpose of prostitution, namely in the area of Brunswick Street, corners of Arthur, Harcourt and Kent Streets, New Farm/Fortitude Valley, who have used these areas for a number of years to ply their illegal trade outside of the homes of families, other residences and business establishments. In carrying out their illegal street based prostitution in a residential area they intimidate the bona-fide residents, business owners and passers by, subject them to harassment, abuse, ridicule and assault, putting residents’ safety at high risk by the type of characters they attract, such as drug dealers, pimps and perverts. They act in a way that causes health concerns, urinating outside homes and business premises and disposing of needles and used condoms on footpaths and in residents’ yards. These street based sex workers, who set up their business on a daily basis without having to pay rent, income tax or GST, do so in the full knowledge that they are able to continue in their illegal activities by inappropriate and unenforceable legislation.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to amend the existing ineffective legislation so as to prevent the soliciting of street based sex workers for the purpose of prostitution, and the loitering of their pimps, in residential areas and to provide police with the necessary human and material resources to implement such laws when enacted.