Petition

The petition of citizens of Queensland draws to the attention of the
House, the uncontrolled proliferation of street based sex workers who
solicit for the purpose of prostitution, namely in the area of Brunswick
Street, corners of Arthur, Harcourt and Kent Streets, New Farm/Fortitude
Valley, who have used these areas for a number of years to ply their
illegal trade outside of the homes of families, other residences and
business establishments.

In carrying out their illegal street based prostitution in a residential
area they intimidate the bona-fide residents, business owners and passers
by, subject them to harassment, abuse, ridicule and assault, putting
residents’ safety at high risk by the type of characters they attract,
such as drug dealers, pimps and perverts. They act in a way that causes
health concerns, urinating outside homes and business premises and
disposing of needles and used condoms on footpaths and in residents’
yards.

These street based sex workers, who set up their business on a daily
basis without having to pay rent, income tax or GST, do so in the full
knowledge that they are able to continue in their illegal activities by
inappropriate and unenforceable legislation.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to amend the existing
ineffective legislation so as to prevent the soliciting of street based
sex workers for the purpose of prostitution, and the loitering of their
pimps, in residential areas and to provide police with the necessary
human and material resources to implement such laws when enacted.