>> Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Brothel business slumps amid economic downturn
By Adam Walters
May 18, 2009 12:00am
DEEP desire is not being matched by the depth of pockets in Sydney brothels as the sex industry succumbs to the global financial crisis.
Helen, the long-time manageress of Liaisons, at Edgecliff, said business had slumped between 30 and 50 per cent since January.
"There's been a massive slowdown as clients cut spending," Helen said.
"Hour-long sessions are becoming half an hour, weekly visits are now monthly and more and more credit cards are being declined."
Helen said the recession was also introducing a new style of prostitute "nothing like the stereotype of the working girl".
"These girls are professionals, university-educated and suddenly unemployed, with big bills to pay.
"They're turning up here on a daily basis looking for work. We've had legal secretaries and beautifully dressed office workers wanting to start as soon as possible.
"Just last week, we had a fashion designer and a qualified architect offering their services."
Lee Cameron, owner of La Petite Aroma, at Chatswood, said many of these "high-class" girls vanished as suddenly as they arrived.
"It's a challenging job; having sex with strangers is certainly not for everybody. Some of the new ones will work for a couple of days and I'll never see them again."
Elena Jeffreys, from the Scarlet Alliance, said the sex industry was like any other in hard times.
Adult Business Association spokesman Chris Seage said he was aware of a 21-room massage parlour in the heart of the CBD operating as Sydney's biggest illegal brothel.
He said the so-called "health spa" continued to trade between 11am and 3am despite the association's repeated protests to the Sydney City Council.
"It's ridiculous - this is happening right under Clover Moore's nose. It's just around the corner from the Town Hall and nobody wants to know about it."
Mr Seage said the massage parlour was next door to a legal brothel, in contravention of city council by-laws governing restricted premises.
The business was recently the subject of a formal complaint to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
By Adam Walters
May 18, 2009 12:00am
DEEP desire is not being matched by the depth of pockets in Sydney brothels as the sex industry succumbs to the global financial crisis.
Helen, the long-time manageress of Liaisons, at Edgecliff, said business had slumped between 30 and 50 per cent since January.
"There's been a massive slowdown as clients cut spending," Helen said.
"Hour-long sessions are becoming half an hour, weekly visits are now monthly and more and more credit cards are being declined."
Helen said the recession was also introducing a new style of prostitute "nothing like the stereotype of the working girl".
"These girls are professionals, university-educated and suddenly unemployed, with big bills to pay.
"They're turning up here on a daily basis looking for work. We've had legal secretaries and beautifully dressed office workers wanting to start as soon as possible.
"Just last week, we had a fashion designer and a qualified architect offering their services."
Lee Cameron, owner of La Petite Aroma, at Chatswood, said many of these "high-class" girls vanished as suddenly as they arrived.
"It's a challenging job; having sex with strangers is certainly not for everybody. Some of the new ones will work for a couple of days and I'll never see them again."
Elena Jeffreys, from the Scarlet Alliance, said the sex industry was like any other in hard times.
Adult Business Association spokesman Chris Seage said he was aware of a 21-room massage parlour in the heart of the CBD operating as Sydney's biggest illegal brothel.
He said the so-called "health spa" continued to trade between 11am and 3am despite the association's repeated protests to the Sydney City Council.
"It's ridiculous - this is happening right under Clover Moore's nose. It's just around the corner from the Town Hall and nobody wants to know about it."
Mr Seage said the massage parlour was next door to a legal brothel, in contravention of city council by-laws governing restricted premises.
The business was recently the subject of a formal complaint to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
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