Thursday, 20 July 2006
Copeland welcomes High Court prostitution decision
United Future MP Gordon Copeland today welcomed the decision of the High Court to uphold Hamilton City Council's
prostitution bylaw.
"It is clear to me that the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 permits local authorities to regulate, through bylaws, the
location of brothels.
"Contrary to the interpretation of some, I'm quite satisfied that Parliament authorised city councils and other local
authorities to regulate the location of both small owner-operated brothels (defined as one where no more than four sex
workers work on a self-employed basis) as well as larger brothels (commonly known as 'parlour-brothels')."
"This is one of the areas which the Prostitution Review Working Group, which I announced yesterday, will be looking at.
From that point of view also the High Court Hamilton decision is most helpful."
ENDS