7 January 2012

Gentlemens Club operating without a licence

| johnboy
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In an all too predictable triumph for the ACT’s regulators the Canberra Times brings word that the burned out Gentlemens Club in Mitchell had no registration with the Office of Regulatory Services.

The Office of Regulatory Services was unable to find a registration for the Grimwade Street brothel, after it was requested by The Canberra Times. It has now advised ACT Policing that the brothel was not registered.

The ACT’s Prostitution Act says operators of a brothel or escort agency must register the business at least seven days before it begins to operate. Brothel owners who don’t register can be fined or imprisoned for up to a year, according to the Act.

”The Office of Regulatory Services has tried to contact the previous registered operator and has advised ACT Policing that there are no registered brothels at 1/36 Grimwade Street,” a spokesman for Justice and Community Safety said.

It just fills one with confidence doesn’t it?

UPDATE: Like a seagull onto a chip the Liberals’ Vicki Dunne is very excited by this development:

“If this brothel has been operating unlicensed, this would be a clear breach of the ACT Prostitution Act, and I will certainly be raising this in the current Assembly inquiry into the Act.

“I have also sought a briefing on how this error has occurred from ACT Policing and ACT Regulatory Services.

“The fact this issue was only brought to the government’s attention following police investigations of a suspected arson attack seriously calls into question whether there are other unlicensed establishments in Canberra.

“I call on Simon Corbell to explain how this occurred and the steps he will take to ensure all brothels in Canberra are compliant with ACT law,” Mrs Dunne concluded.

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screaming banshee2:07 pm 07 Jan 12

Perhaps none of the unregistered brothels have driven past a rapid car lately?

Indeed. Every 6 months crosscheck advertised venues against licence list. How hard can it be?

We are speaking about the ACT government here.

It would be even easier then that, now wouldn’t it.

The businesses are issued with licenses that expire on certain dates, they also have to be paid for by certain dates, a simple database would alert the relevant authority that the license has not been paid for and that it was expired, I mean this is how it works for car rego’s isn’t it?

Gungahlin Al11:38 am 07 Jan 12

Indeed. Every 6 months crosscheck advertised venues against licence list. How hard can it be?

We are speaking about the ACT government here.

Yeah I hear you. BUT there should be no such defence against basic common sense. I think we have a right to expect the basics to be done to a reasonable standard of competency don’t we?

G-Fresh said :

. Bunch of boobs…

Really?

No comment

Grimwade St is in Mitchell not Fyshwick, you should correct that

screaming banshee10:37 pm 06 Jan 12

“The fact this issue was only brought to the government’s attention following police investigations of a suspected arson attack seriously calls into question whether there are other unlicensed establishments in Canberra. “

Even worse it only appeared to come to light after the crimes asked about it…well that’s their version of events anyway. Surprising really, if I had to describe the crimes ability to conduct investigative journalism in the past I would have said they wouldn’t be able to find a root in a…you get the idea.

NoImRight said :

So where does the People’s Front of Judea fit in?[/quote>

And did they serve wolf nipple chips and ocelot spleens?

mr reason said :

If a brothel is operating without a license, how is it the government’s fault? Ins’t it the responsibility of the operator to obtain the license?

By the sounds of it, the place was previously registered but it lapsed. Yes it’s the operator’s responsibility for obtaining a license, but the government obviously does not have proper compliance and licensing checks if they haven’t followed up on expired licenses or performed checks of places operating to the list of licensed premises. It’s not like this place has been operating in a dark alley where nobody can see it..

I-filed said :

What does Fiona Patten have to say about this? At the beginning of legalisation, she and the Eros Foundation were assuring the public that licensing brothels would mean illegal, exploitative ones would be a thing of the past. She also assured the public a few years ago that there was NO sex trafficking in the ACT. Basically, don’t trust what anyone says about the sex industry – other than former (not drugged & current) prostitutes.

I cant envisage a scenario where Ill be put in a position of needing to trust what anyone says about the sex indusrty. Drugged or otherwise.

NoImRight said :

So where does the People’s Front of Judea fit in?

Well, they really, really hate the Romans.

What I love is Mrs Dunne wants a guarantee that all brothels are compliant. How can you guarantee compliance of unregistered brothels? That’s like asking for a guarantee that all unregistered cars in the ACT are roadworthy…

What does Fiona Patten have to say about this? At the beginning of legalisation, she and the Eros Foundation were assuring the public that licensing brothels would mean illegal, exploitative ones would be a thing of the past. She also assured the public a few years ago that there was NO sex trafficking in the ACT. Basically, don’t trust what anyone says about the sex industry – other than former (not drugged & current) prostitutes.

Solidarity said :

The Gentlemens Club is a brothel in Mitchell, NOT Fyshwick.

The Capital Mens Club is a strip club in Fyshwick.

They’re unrelated (as far as i’m aware)

Ah, that’s the one I was thinking of. Cheers.

Bit of a cock up… Bunch of boobs… Put them back in their box…

Gungahlin Al12:30 pm 06 Jan 12

“It just fills one with confidence doesn’t it?”

Indeed. Every 6 months crosscheck advertised venues against licence list. How hard can it be?

It is a recurring issue. Outside carparking and speed cameras, no other laws in the ACT appear to be adequately resourced for policing compliance. Which means businesses treat such laws with contempt. Don’t get me started on builders…

Solidarity said :

The Gentlemens Club is a brothel in Mitchell, NOT Fyshwick.

The Capital Mens Club is a strip club in Fyshwick.

They’re unrelated (as far as i’m aware)

So where does the People’s Front of Judea fit in?

See comment #5 in previous discussions about the Gentlemen’s Club’s advertising.

Anyone want to wonder how they could blanket advertise on radio, yet not be licensed? No one ever raised an eyebrow and said “hang on, is that legal”?

Or is there a weasel word game going on here, the business might be licensed, but that specific premisis is not?

I thought it was a club for gentlemen?

The Gentlemens Club is a brothel in Mitchell, NOT Fyshwick.

The Capital Mens Club is a strip club in Fyshwick.

They’re unrelated (as far as i’m aware)

Tooks said :

I don’t think it is a brothel.

Cant be. Doesnt have a licence.

I don’t think it is a brothel.

“I call on Simon Corbell”

Bob I love that phrase. It sounds so dynamic and yet so pompous at the same time. Makes me miss John Hewson.

…what brothel? 😉

If a brothel is operating without a license, how is it the government’s fault? Ins’t it the responsibility of the operator to obtain the license?

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