NEW LAWS FOR ESCORTS OPERATING IN MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA

On the 1st of June 2016, new laws were passed in Victoria which has changed the way that escorts are able to legally promote their businesses. The Sex Work Regulations 2016 bring about the first change in many years, and although the majority of Victorian sex workers would agree the changes do not go far enough, they are certainly a step in the right direction.

For decades, escorts in Melbourne and the rest of Victoria have had to abide by very strict laws regarding the type of images they are allowed to use to represent their businesses. Victorian escorts have been living with the strictest advertising laws in Australia, and have been restricted to only showing images that show the head and shoulders.

Such advertising laws have made it very difficult for escorts who wish to blur or hide their face, for privacy reasons and to keep their anonymity. It has been challenging to say the least for most Victorian escorts, and the changes to the Victorian sex work laws regarding advertising will certainly bring about much relief.

For many escorts, they can now plan their photo shoots and advertising material for the first time knowing that they can create a beautiful and striking presentation, and showcase themselves in a light that they never could before.

WHAT HAS CHANGED? WHAT ARE MELBOURNE ESCORTS ALLOWED TO DISPLAY IN THEIR ADVERTISING PHOTOS?

The new Victorian sex work laws now allow escorts to show the full length of their body, not just the head and shoulder area. Although escorts can show more than they ever could before, there are still some restrictions.

Victorian escort images must not contain any of the following:

• the bare sexual organs, buttocks or anus of a person 
• frontal nudity of the genital region
• bare breasts
• a sexual act or simulated sexual act
• a person under the age of 18 years 
  
  

Scarlet Blue was very proactive in having our advertisers images switched over to comply with the new legislation. As soon as we received the news about the 2016 Sex Work Regulations being brought into effect, we set about to change all of our Melbourne escorts image galleries for them. We spent day and night, and all galleries were updated within a 24 hour period. Our Melbourne page has never looked so good before.

WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED

Victorian based escorts, and touring escorts visiting and working in Melbourne and Victoria, must still register with the BLA (Business Licensing Authority). An SWA number must be displayed in all advertisements for escorts who are sex work providers.

There have also been no changes in law in regards to providing incall services. Escorts who operate in Victoria are restricted to providing outcall services, where they visit a client at their residence or hotel. Escorts are still unable to provide legal incalls or provide sexual services to clients at their home, unless they have a brothel licence or are approved as an exempt brothel.

The changes to the Victorian sex work laws are welcome, and incredibly overdue. We would like to thank all of those involved for working tirelessly to make a change for the better, and fighting for the rights of Victorian sex workers. Your job is not an easy one, your efforts are appreciated and very much needed. Thank you for working so hard to make these changes come about.

For more information about the updated legislation, please visit the Consumer Affairs website: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/businesses/licensed-businesses/sex-work-service-providers