Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Prostitution Control Act 1994 - SECT 17

Controls on advertising by prostitution service providers

17. Controls on advertising by prostitution service providers



(1) A person must not publish or cause to be published an advertisement for
prostitution services that-

   (a)  describes the services offered; or

   (b)  contravenes the regulations.

Penalty: 40 penalty units.

(2) A person must not cause an advertisement for prostitution services to be
broadcast or televised.

Penalty: 40 penalty units.

(3) A person must not publish or cause to be published a statement which is
intended or likely to induce a person to seek employment-

   (a)  as a prostitute; or

   (b)  in a brothel or with an escort agency or any other business that
        provides prostitution services.

Penalty: 40 penalty units.

(4) A prostitution service provider or any other business that provides
prostitution services must not publish or cause to be published an
advertisement for the business that-

(a) uses (either alone or in combination with any other word or words or
letters) the words "massage", "masseur", "remedial" or any other words that
state or imply that the business provides massage services; or

   (b)  holds the business out either directly or by implication as a provider
        of massage services.

Penalty: 40 penalty units.

(5) If in a proceeding for an offence against this section it is proved to the
court that-

   (a)  an advertisement has been published for or relating to a brothel,
        escort agency or any other business that provides prostitution
        services; and

   (b)  a person is the owner or occupier of the premises on which the
        brothel, escort agency or that other business is carried on-

that person must, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be presumed to have
caused the advertisement to be published.