The Office of Regulatory Services is responsible for the registration of persons providing commercial sexual services and persons who have premises to be used for the purpose of prostitution. The Office of Regulatory Services is also responsible for issue of x-film licences.
A brothel is a premises used for the purpose of prostitution but does not include premises where accomodation is normally provided on a commercial basis. Prostitution is the provision of commercial sexual services.
A person may register a brothel either as a commercial brothel or as a sole operator brothel. A sole operator brothel is a premises used by an individual prostitute that is solely owned and operated by them. A commercial brothel is anything other than a sole operator brothel.
Both sole operators and commercial operators must, at least 7 days prior to the brothel operating, give the Commissioner for Fair Trading a Registration Notice and pay the prescribed fee. Commercial operators must also provide a police report including imprints of the person's fingerprints at time of lodging the Registration Notice.
An escort agency is a business of arranging prostitution at premises other than a brothel. Prostitution is the provision of commercial sexual services.
A person may register an escort agency as a commercial escort agency or a sole operator escort agency. A sole operator escort agency is an escort agency solely owned and operated by an individual prostitute. A commercial escort agency is anything other than a sole operator escort agency.
Both sole operators and commercial operators must, at least 7 days prior to the escort agency operating, give the Commissioner for Fair Trading a Registration Notice and pay the prescribed fee. Commercial operators must also provide a police report including imprints of the person's fingerprints at the time of lodging the Registration Notice.
An x-film licence may be applied for by an individual or a corporation by completing an Application for an X18+ Film Licence and paying the prescribed fee. A licence can be for copying, selling, or copying and selling X18+ films. X18+ films include videos and CD Rom and DVD versions. Licences are subject to a number of conditions.
Part of the application process includes a statutory declaration that will address a number of issues to assist us in determining whether you are eligible for a licence. You must answer all questions on the statutory declaration.
An x-film licence can only be issued in respect of premises located in the A.C.T. divisions of Fyshwick, Mitchell and Hume. The block and section details will be recorded on all licences issued and may be for more than one premises.
The Commissioner for Fair Trading must keep a register of information provided by the operators of brothels and escort agencies. The information contained in the register is available for public inspection, however information relating to names or addresses of sole operators is not available for public inspection.
Prostitution is legal in the ACT, however persons operating brothels or escort agencies must be registered.
Complaints should be directed to ACT Policing.
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