Brothel (legal definition according to the Sex Work Act 1994 (Vic))

Premises, whether residential or commercial, made available for the purpose of sex work carried out by one or more people providing sexual services.

The above definition is a concise version of the wording of the Act. This legal definition is significant because it encompasses self-employed sex workers providing incalls, ie, seeing clients in the worker’s residence. This means any sex worker who accepts a paying client in the worker’s home without council approval is breaking the law. Currently in Victoria, to do so is an indictable offence – that is, a serious criminal charge.

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