Brothel attacks ‘illegals’

A FRUSTRATED brothel operator is calling for Tweed Shire and Gold Coast councils to form a joint taskforce tackling illegal prostitution.

Le Penthouse Suite operator, only going by first name John, said it was time authorities did something about “flourishing” numbers of massage shops offering extras without brothel licences.

Both councils should join forces and invest in a private investigator to determine which shops are offering illegitimate extras, the Tweed brothel operator said.

He then wants any shops offering “extras” banned from operating for three months and made to apply for brothel licensing, costing an estimated $40,000 a year.

“The State Government and local councils, both Tweed Shire and Gold Coast, need to have a meeting, set up a joint taskforce, hire a private investigator to pose as a client and get the evidence,” he said.

“Shut them down for 90 days and make them apply for brothel licences.

“It’s a growing problem and not only that the government is losing a lot of tax over it.”

A year ago the Bulletin visited two massage shops posing as therapeutic businesses and was offered extras at both, including an offer of sexual hand relief for $20.

A senior police officer told the Bulletin police had earmarked unregulated massage shops several years ago as “flourishing industry” but it hadn’t been properly tackled due to, “I probably think a lack of will ... apathy”.

“People just don’t care and there is a total disregard for it, a ‘who cares?’ attitude at many levels of authority,” he said.