Community Safety

The Latest

31 August, 2010

Janet works closely with members of the local community to successfully have brothels operating in the City of Melville closed. 

In 2008, as a result of community concerns in relation to a brothel operating in Mount Pleasant, Janet lobbied both the local and State Government to have this brothel closed. 

Janet's efforts to close brothels operating within residential areas continues as she was informed in April and May 2010 of two other brothels operating near family homes within the City of Melville.  The City as well as the Palmyra Police Station were notified of these brothels and the community's wish for their closure.  The brothels have since ceased operation.

Janet believes the Prostitution Amendment Bill introduced to legalise prostitution in 2007 was probably the worst piece of legislation by the former Labor Government. Janet led a protest against this legislation in 2007.  Janet believes legalisation will only worsen the abuse and traficking of girls, women and boys for prostitution.

Janet is currently lobbying for the Liberal-National State Government to introduce the Swedish model where the purchase of sexual services are banned.  As a result of this model, the number of women in street prostitution in Stockholm reduced by two thirds and the number of customers reduced by 80%.  In some other major Swedish cities, street prostitution all but disappeared and brothels and massage parlors which proliferated during the last three decades when prostitution in Sweden was legal have also disappeared.  As part of the model, the Swedish government provided ample social services funds to help prostitutes who wanted to get out.  60% of the prostitutes in Sweden took advantage of the well funded programs and succeeded in leaving prostitution. 

Achievements

30 August, 2010