Sydney’s “Bible-Belt” declares “war” on prostitution

SYDNEY - The inhabitants of Sydney’s “Bible-Belt” or Hills Shire Council, are strongly campaigning for the complete closure of the city’s brothels by seeking alterations in state planning laws.

Earlier, the council had approved a new draft development control plan that bans brothels from functioning anywhere except in industrial zones and now they will request the Premier, Kristina Keneally to introduce a law that imposes an absolute ban on brothels.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Hills mayor, Peter Dimbrowsky, said thecouncil had “deliberately” tried to make it difficult for brothels to open through the control plan: “We are a family-oriented area. It’s not in keeping with the core values.”

However, brothel owners warn that such measures will not ensure complete cessation of prostitution but in fact create conditions that will endanger sex-workers’ health and safety.

Janelle Fawkes, chief executive officer of the Scarlet Alliance, said pushing brothels into industrial areas puts sex workers, predominantly women, at risk of robbery or violence.

“That means we are leaving our workplaces in industrial areas in the early hours of the morning and late at night,” she said.

A number of planning principles apply to brothels in New South Wales, including that they not be clearly visible from schools or be located next to areas zoned residential, the paper said. (ANI)