As a sex work service provider, it is your responsibility to understand your legal obligations under the Sex Work Act 1994.
You must also understand your responsibilities under other laws that set rules for your business; for example, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, which apply to all Victorian businesses.
You may be penalised for breaches of the Sex Work Act 1994. Some offences and their penalties are listed below.
We have a range of options to deal with breaches we identify. For more information, view Regulatory approach and compliance policy.
Monetary penalties under the Sex Work Act 1994 can be imposed by:
- a court, after it finds charges proven
- an infringement notice, issued by us. For more information, view About infringement notices.
The value of a penalty unit is $192.31 for financial year 2023-24. For more information, visit Indexation of fees and penalties - Department of Treasury and Finance.
This table contains examples of common breaches of the Sex Work Act 1994 and the maximum penalties which apply:
|
Section of the Sex Work Act
|
Obligation
|
Maximum penalty for breaching your obligation
|
|
21
|
You must not sell, supply or consume liquor in a brothel.
|
100 penalty units
|
|
22
|
You must be licensed.
|
5 years' jail and 1200 penalty units
|
| 60A |
You must display prescribed sexual slavery signage in your premises. |
10 penalty units |