By Alesha Capone
Illegal brothels offering unsafe sex practices are operating rampantly in Melbourne’s west, according to legal brothels and escort agencies.
Australian Adult Entertainment Industry’s William Albon said he had been told by a legal brothel owner that 30 to 40 illegal brothels were running in locations across Williamstown, Footscray, Altona, Sunshine, Point Cook and Werribee.
The owner of another legal brothel located in the west said there were websites on which illegal brothels advertised their services, often with photos.
He said many of the advertisements asked for “cash only” from clients and included unlicensed sex workers operating in Caroline Springs, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Tarneit, Williams Landing, Ardeer and St Albans.
“Some of the photos they are using are quite gross and some of the services the girls offer are quite unsafe and illegal, such as sex without a condom,” he said.
The owner of a different legal brothel said there were at least four illegal brothels “operating quite openly” in Newport.
“The bigger problem is trafficking girls – we have been asked on two occasions if we wanted girls (European girls) supplied to us by men visiting the shop,” he said. “There are also many visa-less girls in the industry who are moved around massage shops.”
The owners of Bodyline in Yarraville said there were “stacks” of illegal brothels located in the Maribyrnong municipality.
“Those illegal places often have no shower and are very unsafe,” one of the owners said.
All of the legal brothel owners contacted by
Star Weekly said Melbourne’s unlicensed sex industry was barely monitored.
They said the Victoria Police Sex Industry Coordination Unit (SICU) was understaffed and had only made “a handful of arrests” related to illegal sex work.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the SICU and local police were running Operation Foxtails, targeting a number of illegal brothels in the west.
“We take all allegations of illegal sex work seriously and encourage any person with information on illegal brothels to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au,” she said.
