The CMC took a staged approach to the escorts inquiry, which involved background research and a call for public submissions (March 2005) and the release of a discussion paper (2005). This was followed by two days of public hearings in September 2005.
It was considered important for the vast array of opinions about escort services to be aired at the hearings, to ensure that the Queensland public had access to information about the key issues involved in the debate, and allow the key stakeholders in the industry to examine and discuss the conflicting views about escorts across the industry.
Following the hearings, further consultations with key stakeholders, other key individuals and government agencies occurred, to examine more closely the major issues raised at the hearings.
In December 2005 the CMC released an interim position paper indicating the Commission’s preliminary view that outcall services should not be legalised.
As an alternative to legalisation, the paper described a model designed to both sustain the legal prostitution industry in Queensland and attack the illegal industry.
- Interim postion paper: Should legal outcall prostitution services in Queensland be extended to licensed brothels and/or escort agencies? (PDF)
- Discussion paper: Should escort or outcall prostitution services in Queensland be legalised? (PDF)
Day 1: Tuesday 13 September 2005
Introduction (10.00–10.45)
Chairperson's opening address
- Robert Needham
Overview of the inquiry, research findings and key issues
- Dr Margot Legosz
Presentations by the regulatory authorities (10.45-12.00)
Prostitution Licensing Authority
- The Honourable Manus Boyce QC, Chair
Queensland Police Service
- Detective Superintendent Gayle Hogan
- Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Kidd
Local Government Association of Queensland
- Bryce Hines, Environment and Health Policy Adviser and Janet Frost, Planning and Development Policy Adviser
Lunch break (12.00-13.00)
Presentations by sex worker representatives (13.00–14.20)
Self-help for Queensland Workers in the Sex Industry (SQWISI)
- Cheryl Matthews, State Manager
SSPAN
- Presentation read by Dr Margot Legosz (CMC)
Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association Inc.
- Janelle Fawkes, Manager
Sole operator
- Nikki
Break (14.20-14.50)
Presentation by Queensland Health (14.50–15.10)
Mark Counter, Acting Manager, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Sexual Health Communicable Diseases Unit
Presentations by community groups (15.10–16.10)
Family Council of Queensland
- Patty Smith
Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women Australia
- Caroline Spencer
Australian Family Association
- Mark Holzworth
- Bronwyn Healy
Day 2: Wednesday 14 September 2005
Presentations by brothel licensees (10.00–11.00)
Queensland Adult Business Association Yvette Skinner, President
- Nick Inskip
- Dr Gayre Christie
Gold Coast brothel licensees
- Neil Gilmour
Session in reply and forum for key issues (11.00–13.00)
All presenters from days 1 and 2
Lunch break (13.00–14.00)
Forum continued (14.00–15.45)
Closing address (15.45-16.00)
- Robert Needham
