Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Prostitution Control Act 1994 - SECT 6

Obtaining payment for sexual services provided by a child

6. Obtaining payment for sexual services provided by a child



(1) A person must not receive a payment (except in the ordinary course of a
business unrelated to prostitution) knowing that it or any part of it has been
derived, directly or indirectly, from sexual services provided by a child.

Penalty: Level 4 imprisonment (15 years maximum).

(2) An offence against subsection (1) is an indictable offence.

(3) If in a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1) it is proved that
the accused was residing with a prostitute who was a child, the accused must
be presumed to be guilty of the offence in the absence of proof to the
contrary.

(4) In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1)-

   (a)  it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the accused knew
        that the person concerned was a child; but

   (b)  it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove that, having
        taken all reasonable steps to find out the age of the person
        concerned, the accused believed on reasonable grounds, at the time the
        offence is alleged to have been committed, that the person concerned
        was aged 18 years or more.