Page 3149 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 August 2008
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Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) In the 2007/08 financial year $158,558 was taken in licence fees.
(2) Details of this are not known. I am advised that generally there is no prohibition in interstate law which prevents people from purchasing X-rated films or from viewing them. There are offences under state classification enforcement legislation for the sale or hire of X-rated films. The enforcement and prosecution of these offences is a matter for state authorities.
In 2007 the Federal Government implemented measures to reduce pornography and create safer places for kids in the Northern Territory. Changes to the Commonwealth Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 created new offences for possessing pornography within prescribed areas in the Northern Territory and for supplying pornography into those areas.
It is not justifiable to blame any increase in the availability of X-rated films in the states on the current arrangements in the ACT or the Northern Territory. Generally speaking, in a regulated market there is a higher level of compliance than in an unregulated market, such as those interstate.
(3) The ACT Government has taken the view that, on balance, it is more prudent to regulate and control the release of X-rated material. The regulated structure, and the way that it is enforced in the ACT, acts as a disincentive to illegal market activities, such as the sale of ‘refused classification’ films and films that are yet to be classified, to protect the wider community including women and children.
Brothels—licences
(Question No 2113)
Mrs Dunne asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 26 June 2008:
(1) How many licensed brothels currently operate within the ACT;
(2) Is the Department aware of any unlicensed sex providers operating in the ACT at the moment; if so, how many;
(3) Has the Department discovered the existence of any unlicensed sex providers operating in the ACT in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007 08 to date; if so, how many and what was the course of action taken;
(4) How many licenses have been refused to potential providers since 1998 and on what grounds were they refused;
(5) Has the Department been aware of any raids conducted by the Australian Federal Police, regulatory services or immigration on brothels in the ACT from 2004 to date;
(6) Does the Department keep records regarding the number of women who have been found to be underage and working in brothels in the ACT; if so, could the Minister provide the (a) number of underage women found to be working in brothels in the
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