Perth massage parlours a ‘vehicle for prostitution’ as City of Joondalup backs call for tighter controls

The City of Joondalup is set to advocate to the State Government for a planning overhaul to better regulate massage parlours after community concerns over alleged illegal activities at some establishments. The Joondalup council supported an amended motion at its Tuesday night meeting asking the CEO to write to the WA Planning Commission and WALGA to seek “greater accountability for massage parlours around the state”, a move led by mayor Daniel Kingston. “I think it is reasonable given that massage parlours are becoming more frequently a vehicle for prostitution and in some cases illegal prostitution as well, where individuals are even trafficked,” Mr Kingston said. “There’s become more studies which have been done recently, particularly in the US, where massage parlours have become a vehicle for that. “There are legitimate massage parlours but there are also massage parlours which have illegal elements to it, and become elements of organised crime.” The amended motion requested that the WAPC consider a stand-alone land use definition for massage premises in local planning schemes. It also called for greater advocacy by WALGA to ensure businesses in activity centres and areas frequented by the general public provide “legitimate massage services and are not associated with provision of sexual services”. The decision to advocate for the change follows a motion passed at the city’s annual general meeting of electors in January, which called for the city to initiate an amendment to its local planning scheme to create a distinct land-use category of “massage parlour” rather than the current “shop” classification. The proposal said a dedicated land use category would enable the city to “ensure that only legitimate businesses providing medical, therapeutic, or health-related massage services are able to operate within mixed use and commercial zones.” However, city administration did not recommend supporting the motion, saying the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage had advised them a scheme amendment to introduce a separate land use would be “highly unlikely” to be supported, as such businesses were already captured under the broader shop definition. City officials also noted it is not the role of local government to “pursue or enforce sexual services that are illegal under State legislation.” Mr Kingston admitted local governments currently had limited powers over what occurs at massage parlours, but believes changes to the planning framework are needed. “That’s something which is more properly done by the WA Police. But I think we need to be looking at ways to control these uses, given that there is a risk sometimes attached to them.” Speaking to PerthNow, a spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage said massage services of an illegal or inappropriate nature were not regulated through local planning schemes. “Planning and land use controls are not intended to regulate or police illegal activity,” the spokesperson said. “The State Government takes allegations of unlawful behaviour seriously, and community concerns should be reported to the WA Police Force for investigation.” However, they added land use definitions were always being reviewed. “The State Government continues to work with local governments to ensure the planning framework remains clear and effective,” they said. “Any changes to land use definitions or scheme provisions would need to be carefully considered to ensure they are appropriate, effective and work consistently across the planning system.”