Sex in the suburbs

Fears decision could negatively impact the NT property market

PROPERTY Council NT chief executive Ruth Palmer and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro have slammed the Gunner Government for quietly passing a planning amendment allowing sex workers to operate from suburban homes.

The changes to the Planning Act 1999 were passed on May 27 by Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler who said the decision was made in response to feedback from consultation.

PROPERTY Council NT chief executive Ruth Palmer and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro have slammed the Gunner Government for passing a planning amendment allowing sex workers to operate from suburban homes.

The changes to the Planning Act 1999 were passed on May 27 by Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler. In the Reasons for Decision document published on the Territory Government website, Ms Lawler said she decided to approve the amendment in response to feedback received during the public consultation process.

The amendment allows sex workers to operate from homes granted the dwelling is not next to or directly opposite a school, child care service or place of worship.

“I approved this altered proposal because the controls will enable the sex industry to operate in accordance with the laws of the Northern Territory as they apply to all individuals and businesses generally,” Ms Lawler wrote.

The NT parliament voted to fully decriminalise sex work in November last year.

Ms Finocchiaro accused the Gunner Government of not being “transparent” about passing the changes without fanfare.

“Whatever your attitude towards sex work in general, Territorians have told me they do not approve of sex services business being established where there are children, seniors, and vulnerable people living,” she said.

She also expressed concerns about “the definition of abutting or directly opposite” as per the amendment.

“Does it mean a sex services business can operate diagonally opposite a school?” Ms Finocchiaro said. Property Council NT executive director Ms Palmer said she was “disappointed” with the amendments, saying they could negatively impact the NT property market.

“We believe that these amendments will reduce population growth in the permitted zoning, reduce the demand for residential developments … reduce the property values of existing residential property owners,” she said.