Forfeiture and delivery other than on conviction 21
Disposal of thing forfeited 22
Powers to assist seizing things 23
Commissioner may delegate function 23
Part 5 — Restraining orders
Restraining order to prevent further offence 24
Restraining order against person who could be required to move on 24
Provisions about making order 24
Terms of restraining order 25
Duration of restraining order 26
Variation or cancellation 26
Court to notify parties of decision 28
When cancellation takes effect 28
Provisions about children 28
Breach of restraining order 29
Appeals 29
Order not to conflict with family order 30
Part 6 — Evidence
Accused presumed to know if person is a child 31
Person residing with child prostitute presumed to receive payment 31
Accused presumed to have allowed presence of child 31
Intention presumed in some cases 31
Averment that prostitution business carried on 32
Part 7 — Miscellaneous
Legal proceedings 33
Protection of certain persons 33
Exchange of information between State authorities 33
Confidentiality 35
Liability of officers for offence by body corporate 35
Regulations 36
Regulations relating to restraining order applications 36
Schedule 1 — Offence history that may be an element of a section 14 offence
Notes
Compilation table 39
Uncommenced provisions table 40
Other notes 41
Defined terms
Western Australia
Prostitution Act 2000
An Act to make provisions about prostitution and for related purposes, and to amend certain other Acts 1.
Part 1 — Preliminary
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Prostitution Act 2000.
2. Commencement
This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.
3. Terms used
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —
act as a prostitute means to take part, as a prostitute, in an act of prostitution;
act of prostitution means anything the doing of which amounts to prostitution;
child means a person whose age is less than 18 years;
client has the meaning given to that term in section 4;
Commissioner of Police means the person holding or acting in the office of Commissioner of Police under the Police Act 1892;
document includes any tape, disc or other device or medium on which information is recorded or stored mechanically, photographically, electronically or otherwise;
place means anywhere at all, and includes anywhere in or on something that is moving or can move;
prohibited drug has the meaning given to that term by section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981;
prostitute has the meaning given to that term in section 4;
prostitution has the meaning given by section 4;
public place means —
(a) any place to which the public, or any section of the public, have or are permitted to have access whether on payment or otherwise; or
(b) a school, university or other place of education, other than a part of it to which neither students nor the public usually have access; or
(c) a privately owned place that is unoccupied or is occupied by a person who is not the owner and does not have the authority of the owner.
4. Prostitution
When this Act refers to prostitution it means prostitution in which payment is consideration for the sexual stimulation of a person (the client) by means of physical contact between the client and another person (the prostitute), or between either of them and anything controlled by or emanating from the other, and it is irrelevant whether payment is in money or any other form.
Part 2 — General provisions about prostitution
Division 1 — Persons generally
5. Seeking prostitute in or in view or within hearing of public place
(1) A person who, in or in the view or within hearing of a public place, seeks another person to act as a prostitute commits an offence under this subsection.
(2) The offence under subsection (1) is a crime if the person whom the offender seeks to act as a prostitute, or any of them if there are more than one, is a child.
(3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable —
(a) if it is a simple offence, to imprisonment for 2 years;
(b) if it is a crime, to imprisonment for 7 years.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person (in this section called the offender) seeks another person to act as a prostitute if the offender —
(a) invites or requests another person to act as a prostitute; or
(b) loiters in or frequents a place for the purpose of, or with the intention of —
(i) inviting or requesting another person to act as a prostitute; or
(ii) receiving an invitation for another person to act as a prostitute.
(5) It makes no difference —
(a) whether or not the offender is the prospective client; or
(b) whether or not a particular person is sought to act as a prostitute; or
(c) whether the offender makes or intends to make the invitation or request directly or through someone else to, or intends to receive the invitation directly or through someone else from, the person whom the offender seeks to act as a prostitute.
6. Seeking client in or in view or within hearing of public place
(1) A person who, in or in the view or within hearing of a public place, seeks another person to be a prostitute’s client commits an offence under this subsection.
(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable —
(a) if the person whom the offender seeks to be a prostitute’s client, or any of them if there are more than one, is a child, to imprisonment for 3 years;
(b) in any other case, to imprisonment for one year.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person (in this section called the offender) seeks another person to be a prostitute’s client if the offender —
(a) invites or requests another person to be a prostitute’s client; or
(b) loiters in or frequents a place for the purpose of, or with the intention of —
(i) inviting or requesting another person to be a prostitute’s client; or
(ii) receiving an invitation for another person to be a prostitute’s client.
(4) It makes no difference —
(a) whether or not the offender, or any particular person, is the prospective prostitute; or
(b) whether or not a particular person is sought to be a client; or
(c) whether the offender makes or intends to make the invitation or request directly or through someone else to, or intends to receive the invitation directly or through someone else from, the person whom the offender seeks to be a prostitute’s client.
7. Seeking to induce person to act as prostitute
(1) A person is not to —
(a) assault or threaten to assault anyone; or
(b) intimidate anyone; or
(c) supply or offer to supply a prohibited drug to anyone; or
(d) make a false representation or use any false pretence or other fraudulent means; or
(e) do anything else, or refrain from doing anything,
with the intention of inducing another person who is not a child to act, or continue to act, as a prostitute.
(2) An offence under subsection (1) is a crime.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Summary conviction penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.
8. Prophylactic to be used
It is an offence for a person to engage in an act of prostitution without using a prophylactic that is appropriate for preventing the transmission of bodily fluid from one person to another.
Penalty: $5 000.
9. Promoting employment in prostitution industry
A person is not to publish or cause to be published a statement that is intended or likely to induce a person to —
(a) seek employment as, or act as, a prostitute; or
(b) seek employment in any other capacity in any business involving the provision of prostitution.
Penalty: $50 000.
10. Prohibition of certain sponsorships
(1) A person is not, in Western Australia, to promote or publicize, or agree to promote or publicize —
(a) any person as a prostitute; or
(b) any business involving prostitution,
under a contract, or an arrangement (whether or not legally binding), under which a sponsorship is provided, or to be provided, by another person.
(2) A person (whether inside or outside Western Australia) is not to provide, or agree to provide, in Western Australia a sponsorship under a contract or arrangement of a kind referred to in subsection (1).
(3) In this section —
sponsorship includes —
(a) a scholarship, prize, gift or other like benefit; and
(b) any financial arrangement (other than a bona fide contract of employment or a bona fide contract for services) for directly promoting or publicizing a person or business as referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) through any medium.
Penalty: $50 000.
11. Hindering performance of functions
A person is not to delay, obstruct or otherwise hinder a police officer or any other person in the performance of any function under this Act.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
12. Contravening direction by police to move on
A person is not to, without lawful excuse, contravene a direction given under section 24.
Penalty: For a first offence, $6 000.
For a subsequent offence, imprisonment for one year.
[Section 12 amended: No. 50 of 2003 s. 87(2).]
13. Failure to comply with certain police requirements
(1) A person is not to, without lawful excuse, refuse or fail to produce a document or other thing as required under section 23.
(2) A person is not to, without lawful excuse, refuse or fail to answer a question or otherwise give information when required to do so under section 23.
Penalty: For an offence against subsection (1) or (2), imprisonment for 2 years.
(3) Where an individual is required under section 23 to answer a question or otherwise give information or produce anything neither —
(a) an answer given by the individual that was given to comply with the requirement;
(b) the fact that any information that was given by the individual to comply with the requirement was given; nor
(c) the fact that anything that was produced by the individual to comply with the requirement was produced,
is admissible in evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings against the individual other than proceedings for perjury or for an offence arising from the false or misleading nature of the answer or information given.
(4) Nothing in this Act prevents —
(a) an individual from refusing to answer a question or otherwise give information or produce a document or other thing because the answer or information might, or the document or thing contains information that might, incriminate the individual or render the individual liable to a penalty; or
(b) a person refusing to answer a question or otherwise give information or produce a document or other thing because the answer or information would relate to, or the document or thing contains information in respect of which the person claims legal professional privilege.
Division 2 — Prostitutes
14. Section 14 offence
A person who acts as a prostitute commits an offence under this section if —
(a) the person is a child; or
(b) the person has been declared under section 32A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 to be a drug trafficker; or
(c) the person has been found guilty of an offence described in Schedule 1.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
15. Acting as prostitute for child
A person who acts as a prostitute for a client who is a child commits an offence under this section.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 9 months.
[Section 15 amended: No. 50 of 2003 s. 87(3).]
Part 3 — Other provisions about children
16. Causing, permitting, or seeking to induce child to act as prostitute
(1) A person is not to cause or permit a child to act, or continue to act, as a prostitute.
(2) A person is not to do anything with the intention of inducing a child to act, or continue to act, as a prostitute.
(3) An offence under subsection (1) or (2) is a crime.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 14 years.
17. Obtaining payment for prostitution by child
(1) A person is not to receive a payment, in money or any other form, knowing that it or any part of it has been derived, directly or indirectly, from a child taking part in an act of prostitution, whether as a prostitute or as a client.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 14 years.
(2) An offence under subsection (1) is a crime.
(3) A person has a defence to a charge of an offence under subsection (1) if it is proved that the payment was received in the ordinary course of a business unrelated to prostitution.
18. Agreement for prostitution by child
(1) A person is not to enter into, or offer to enter into, an agreement under which a child is to act as a prostitute, whether for that person or anyone else.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 14 years.
(2) An offence under subsection (1) is a crime.
19. Child not to seek services of prostitute
(1) A child is not to seek another person to act as a prostitute.
Penalty: $6 000.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a child seeks another person to act as a prostitute if the child —
(a) invites or requests another person to act as a prostitute; or
(b) loiters in or frequents a place for the purpose of, or with the intention of —
(i) inviting or requesting another person to act as a prostitute; or
(ii) receiving an invitation for another person to act as a prostitute.
(3) It makes no difference —
(a) whether or not the child is the prospective client; or
(b) whether or not a particular person is sought to act as a prostitute; or
(c) whether the child makes or intends to make the invitation or request directly or through someone else to, or intends to receive the invitation directly or through someone else from, the person whom the child seeks to act as a prostitute.
[Section 19 amended: No. 50 of 2003 s. 87(4).]
20. Prostitution at place where child present
(1) A person who takes part, whether as a prostitute or as a client, in an act of prostitution at a place where the person knows that a child is present commits an offence under this section.
Penalty:
(a) for a first offence — $25 000;
(b) for any subsequent offence — imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the place extends as far as the limits up to which either a prostitute or a client taking part in the act of prostitution exercises, or is able to exercise, control over who is allowed to be there.
(3) It makes no difference whether control is, or is able to be, exercised solely or in common with others.
21. Allowing child to be at place involving prostitution
A person who allows a child to enter or remain at a place at which the person knows or could be reasonably expected to know —
(a) an act of prostitution is taking place; or
(b) a business involving more than one prostitute in the provision of prostitution is being carried on,
commits an offence under this section.
Penalty:
(a) for a first offence — $25 000;
(b) for any subsequent offence — imprisonment for 2 years.
Part 4 — Provisions for police
22. Terms used
(1) In this Part —
Commissioner means the Commissioner of Police;
conveyance means anything used or capable of being used to transport people or goods by air, land, or water, and it does not matter how it is propelled or that it may ordinarily be stationary;
juvenile justice team means a juvenile justice team under Part 5 Division 2 of the Young Offenders Act 1994;
offence means an offence under this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this Part a person is lawfully entitled to possess something if —
(a) the person owns it or is authorised by the owner to possess it; and
(b) the possession is not prohibited by law or is authorised, justified or excused by law.
23. Powers to obtain information
(1) A police officer may, for the purpose of performing any function in respect of an offence under section 7 or any offence involving a child —
(a) require a person to produce to the police officer any document or other thing that is in the possession or under the control of the person; and
(b) inspect any document or other thing produced to the police officer and retain it for such reasonable period as the police officer thinks fit, and make copies of a document or any of its contents; and
(c) require a person —
(i) to give the police officer such information as the police officer requires; and
(ii) to answer any question put to that person.
(2) A requirement made under subsection (1) to produce a document or other thing —
(a) is to be made in writing given to the person required to produce the document or other thing; and
(b) is to specify the time at or within which the document or other thing is to be produced; and
(c) may, by its terms, require that the document or other thing required be produced at a place and by means specified in the requirement; and
(d) where the document required is not in a readable format, is to be treated as a requirement to produce —
(i) the document itself; and
(ii) the contents of the document in a readable format.
(3) A requirement made under subsection (1) to give information or answer a question —
(a) may be made orally or in writing served on the person required to give information or answer a question, as the case may be; and
(b) is to specify the time at or within which the information is to be given or the question is to be answered, as the case may be; and
(c) may, by its terms, require that the information or answer required —
(i) be given orally or in writing;
(ii) be given at or sent or delivered to a place specified in the requirement;
(iii) in the case of written information or answers, be sent or delivered by means specified in the requirement;
(iv) be verified by statutory declaration.
(4) If under subsection (1) the police officer requires a person to give information or answer a question, the police officer is to inform the person that the person is required under this Act to give the information or answer the question.
24. Police may direct person to move on
A police officer who has reason to suspect that a person has committed, or intends to commit, an offence in or in the view or within hearing of a public place may, in writing in a form approved by the Commissioner, direct the person to move away from that place and a surrounding area specified in the direction, and stay away from it for a period of not more than 24 hours specified in the direction.
25. Detention, search and seizure without warrant
(1) A police officer may without a warrant stop, detain and search anyone whom the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds to be —
(a) committing an offence; or
(b) carrying anything that will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence.
(2) A police officer may without a warrant stop, detain and search any conveyance where the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that there is —
(a) anyone who is committing an offence; or
(b) anything that will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence.
(3) The power to stop and detain a conveyance includes the power to detain anyone in or on the conveyance for as long as is reasonably necessary to search the conveyance even though, until the conveyance has been searched, the person may not be suspected of anything because of which the person can be detained under subsection (1).
(4) A police officer may without a warrant seize anything that the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence.
26. Entry of, and seizure at, place of business without warrant
(1) A police officer may, without a warrant, at any time, enter any place at or from which a business involving the provision of prostitution is being, or is suspected of being, carried on and inspect any articles and records kept there.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply unless the police officer has reason to believe that an offence under section 7 or any offence involving a child has been, is being or may be committed.
(3) A police officer who has entered a place under subsection (1) may —
(a) search the place; and
(b) stop, detain and search anyone at the place; and
(c) seize anything that the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence.
(4) A police officer may use any force that is reasonably necessary in exercising powers given by subsections (1) and (3).
27. Search and seizure with warrant
(1) If a justice is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is in a place anything that will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence, the justice may grant a warrant of search and seizure in relation to that place.
(2) A warrant under subsection (1) authorises any police officer at any time, with such assistance as the police officer thinks necessary and with such force as is reasonably necessary —
(a) to enter the place at any time; and
(b) to search the place; and
(c) to stop, detain and search anyone at the place; and
(d) to seize anything that the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence.
(3) The authority given by a warrant lapses at the end of a period of 30 days after it was granted and, until it lapses or the purpose for which it was given is satisfied, the authority it gives may be exercised from time to time unless the warrant expressly limits that authority.
28. Warrant may be obtained remotely
(1) An application for a warrant under section 27 may be initially submitted by telephone, fax, radio or another form of communication if the applicant considers it necessary because of urgent circumstances or the applicant’s remote location.
(2) Before submitting an application under this section, the applicant is to prepare a written application setting out the grounds for seeking the warrant and describing the place to which the warrant relates.
(3) If an application is submitted under this section, the information in the written application required by subsection (2) is to be verified by affidavit and, if it is necessary to do so, the application may be submitted before the affidavit has been sworn.
(4) When issuing a warrant upon an application submitted under this section, the justice is to —
(a) complete and sign the warrant; and
(b) inform the applicant of the terms of the warrant and the date on which and the time at which it was signed; and
(c) record on the warrant the reasons for issuing the warrant; and
(d) send a copy of the warrant to the applicant.
(5) If a warrant is issued upon an application submitted under this section, the applicant may complete a form of warrant in the terms indicated by the justice under subsection (4)(b) if the applicant writes on it the name of the justice who issued the warrant and the date on which, and the time at which, it was signed.
(6) If the applicant completes a form of warrant in accordance with subsection (5), the applicant is to send to the justice who signed the warrant, not later than the day next following the day on which the warrant ceases to have effect, the form of warrant completed by the person and the affidavit sworn in connection with the warrant.
(7) On receiving the documents referred to in subsection (6), the justice is to attach them to the warrant signed by the justice and deal with the documents in the manner in which the justice would have dealt with the affidavit if the application for the warrant had not been submitted under this section.
(8) A form of warrant completed in accordance with subsection (5) is to be regarded as the warrant itself.
29. Provisions about searching person
(1) A police officer cannot carry out a search of a person under this Part unless of the same sex as the person searched.
(2) If a police officer of the same sex as the person to be searched is not immediately available to carry out the search, another police officer may —
(a) cause the search to be carried out, under the direction of a police officer, by another person of the same sex as the person to be searched; or
(b) detain the person for as long as is reasonably necessary for the person to be searched in accordance with this section; or
(c) convey or conduct the person to a place where the person can be searched in accordance with this section.
(3) Nothing in this Part authorises a search by way of an examination of the body cavities of a person unless it is carried out under subsection (5) by a medical practitioner or a registered nurse.
(4) A police officer may arrange for a medical practitioner or registered nurse nominated by the police officer to examine the body cavities of the person to be searched and may —
(a) detain the person until the arrival of that medical practitioner or registered nurse; or
(b) convey or conduct the person to that medical practitioner or registered nurse.
(5) A medical practitioner or registered nurse may carry out an examination arranged by a police officer under subsection (4) and no action lies against the medical practitioner or registered nurse in respect of anything reasonably done for the purposes of the examination.
(6) A police officer may use any force that is reasonably necessary, and may call on any assistance necessary, in order to perform a function under this section.
(7) In this section —
medical practitioner means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) in the medical profession;
registered nurse means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) in the nursing profession whose name is entered on Division 1 of the Register of Nurses kept under that Law as a registered nurse.
[Section 29 amended: No. 50 of 2006 Sch. 3 cl. 18; No. 22 of 2008 Sch. 3 cl. 48; No. 35 of 2010 s. 139; No. 4 of 2018 s. 116.]
30. Retaining something seized but not forfeited
(1) This section applies to anything seized under this Act that —
(a) is not forfeited to the Crown; and
(b) a court has not ordered to be delivered to a person under section 31(1)(b) or 32(6).
(2) A police officer may retain anything to which this section applies if —
(a) it is required —
(i) for the investigation of an offence or the prosecution of someone for an offence; or
(ii) for the purposes of a matter that is being dealt with by a juvenile justice team;
or
(b) no person has satisfied the Commissioner that the person is lawfully entitled to possess it.
(3) Anything to which this section applies that cannot be retained under subsection (2) is to be returned to the person from whom it was seized.
31. Forfeiture and delivery on conviction
(1) A court convicting a person of an offence may order that —
(a) anything relating to the offence, whether or not it has been seized and retained by a police officer under this Act, is forfeited to the Crown;
(b) anything relating to the offence that has been seized and retained by a police officer under this Act be delivered to another person who is lawfully entitled to possess it.
(2) A person claiming to be lawfully entitled to possess anything in respect of which an order may be made under subsection (1)(b) may, in connection with the making of an order —
(a) be heard in the proceedings for the offence; and
(b) make an application under section 71 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2004 as if the person were a party to the prosecution for the offence; and
(c) appeal against the order under Part 2 of the Criminal Appeals Act 2004.
[Section 31 amended: No. 59 of 2004 s. 141; No. 84 of 2004 s. 78.]
32. Forfeiture and delivery other than on conviction
(1) A person claiming to be lawfully entitled to possess anything seized and retained under this Act may, if the application is not prevented by subsection (2) and the last day for applying has not passed, apply to the Magistrates Court for an order that the thing be delivered to the person.
(2) An application cannot be made under subsection (1) for an order for the delivery of anything if —
(a) an order has been made under section 31(1) for its forfeiture or delivery; or
(b) a relevant juvenile justice team matter that has commenced has not been finally disposed of by the team; or
(c) a relevant charge that has been laid has not been withdrawn or heard and determined.
(3) In subsection (2) —
relevant charge means a charge of an offence to which the thing that was seized relates;
relevant juvenile justice team matter means a matter to which the thing that was seized relates that is or was being dealt with by a juvenile justice team.
(4) The last day for applying for an order under subsection (1) is the 21st day after the day on which the thing was seized unless the last day for applying is postponed by subsection (5).
(5) If, for any part of the time when an application could otherwise be made in accordance with subsection (4), the making of the application is prevented by subsection (2)(b) or (c), the last day for applying (whether under subsection (4) or as postponed by this subsection) is postponed until the 21st day after the day on which the making of the application ceases to be prevented by subsection (2)(b) or (c).
(6) On an application under subsection (1), the court may order that the thing seized be delivered to the person making the application if the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the person is lawfully entitled to possess it.
(7) The court may adjourn the application if it is satisfied that the thing seized should, for the time being, continue to be retained because it is required for a reason described in section 30(2)(a).
(8) If the last day for applying under subsection (1) for an order for the delivery of a thing has passed and either no application has been made or each application made has been dealt with without ordering that the thing be delivered to a person, that thing is forfeited to the Crown.
[Section 32 amended: No. 59 of 2004 s. 141.]
33. Disposal of thing forfeited
(1) If anything is forfeited to the Crown under this Act, the Commissioner may direct that it be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of, as the Commissioner thinks fit, unless subsection (2) prevents the Commissioner from giving the direction.
(2) If anything is forfeited to the Crown —
(a) by an order under section 31(1)(a); or
(b) after an order dismissing an application under section 32(1),
the Commissioner is not to give a direction under subsection (1) before the expiration of the time allowed for instituting an appeal against the order or, if an appeal is lodged within that time, before the determination of the appeal.
34. Powers to assist seizing things
Sections 146 to 150 of the Criminal Investigation Act 2006, with any necessary changes, apply to and in respect of seizing a thing that is or may be seized under this Act.
[Section 34 inserted: No. 59 of 2006 s. 72.]
[35. Deleted: No. 55 of 2012 s. 123.]
36. Commissioner may delegate function
The Commissioner may by instrument in writing delegate a function conferred on the Commissioner under this Part other than this power of delegation.
[Section 36 amended: No. 55 of 2012 s. 124.]
Part 5 — Restraining orders
37. Restraining order to prevent further offence
If a court finds that a person has committed an offence under section 5 or 6 or any other offence under this Act prescribed for the purposes of this section by the regulations and the court is satisfied that, unless restrained, the person is subsequently likely to commit an offence of a similar kind, the court may make a restraining order if it considers that making the order would be appropriate in the circumstances.
38. Restraining order against person who could be required to move on
(1) If circumstances arise that would give sufficient grounds for a police officer to give a person a direction under section 24 and that person has previously been given a direction under that provision, the police officer may apply for a restraining order against the person.
(2) The application is to be made —
(a) if the person against whom the order is sought is a child, to the Children’s Court; or
(b) otherwise, to the Magistrates Court.
(3) If the court to which the application is made considers it appropriate in the circumstances to do so, it may make a restraining order.
[Section 38 amended: No. 59 of 2004 s. 141.]
39. Provisions about making order
(1) A court is not to make a restraining order against a person under this Part unless the person has been given an opportunity to be heard on the matter.
(2) If a restraining order has been, or is about to be, made against a person under this Part and the person is present, the court may, in order to facilitate service of the restraining order, order the person to remain in a place designated by the court for a period of not more than one hour until the order is served on the person.
40. Terms of restraining order
(1) If the restraining order is made under section 37, it may impose any restraints on the lawful activities and behaviour of the person against whom it is made that the court considers appropriate to prevent the person from subsequently committing an offence similar in kind to the offence the person is found to have committed or from subsequently giving a police officer grounds for giving the person a direction under section 24.
(2) If the restraining order is made under section 38, it may impose any restraints on the lawful activities and behaviour of the person against whom it is made that the court considers appropriate to prevent the person from subsequently giving a police officer grounds for giving the person a direction under section 24.
(3) Without limiting the restraints that may be imposed, the order may restrain the person against whom it is made from —
(a) being on or near specified premises or in a specified locality or place;
(b) engaging in behaviour of a specified kind, either at all or in a specified place, at a specified time, or in a specified manner.
(4) A restraint may be imposed absolutely or on any terms the court considers appropriate.
(5) A restraining order may restrain the person against whom it is made from entering or remaining in a place, or restrict the person’s access to a place, even if the person has a legal or equitable right to be there.
41. Duration of restraining order
(1) A restraining order takes effect when it is served on the person against whom it is made or, if a later time is specified in the order, at that time.
(2) Unless it is cancelled sooner, a restraining order remains in effect for the period specified in the order or, if no period is specified, for one year from the day on which it took effect.
42. Variation or cancellation
(1) An application for the court to vary or cancel a restraining order may be made by a police officer nominated by the Commissioner of Police or, with the leave of the court, by the person against whom the order was made.
(2) The application is to be made —
(a) if the person against whom the order was made is a child, to the Children’s Court; or
(b) otherwise, to the Magistrates Court,
and is to be accompanied by an affidavit in support of the application.
(3) If subsection (1) requires the leave of the court for an application to be made, an application seeking leave is to be accompanied by an affidavit disclosing all facts material to the application, whether supporting or adverse to the application, that are known to the applicant.
(4) Neither the application nor the affidavit are to be served on the person upon whose application the restraining order was made (in this section called the respondent) unless the court orders under subsection (6) that they are to be served on the respondent.
(5) Even though the giving of leave may not be prevented by subsection (7), the court may refuse the application for leave if it considers that —
(a) the affidavit does not disclose everything required by subsection (3) to be disclosed; or
(b) the facts disclosed by the affidavit do not give sufficient reason to vary or cancel the restraining order.
(6) Before the court grants an application for leave it is to —
(a) order that a copy of the application and accompanying affidavit be served on the respondent; and
(b) give the respondent an opportunity to oppose the application for leave.
(7) Leave is not to be given unless the court is satisfied there has been a substantial change in the relevant circumstances since the restraining order was made.
(8) The person against whom the order was made and the respondent are to be given an opportunity to be heard at the hearing of an application to vary or cancel a restraining order.
(9) At the hearing of the application to vary or cancel a restraining order, the court may receive as evidence any record of evidence given or affidavit filed in connection with an application for leave mentioned in subsection (3).
(10) The court may dispose of the application to vary or cancel a restraining order by —
(a) dismissing the application; or
(b) making a new restraining order in addition to the original restraining order; or
(c) cancelling the original restraining order with or without making a new restraining order.
(11) Anything in this Part that applies to a restraining order made in the first instance also applies to a new restraining order made under this section.
[Section 42 amended: No. 59 of 2004 s. 141.]
43. Court to notify parties of decision
If a person who was entitled to be given an opportunity to be heard was not present when the court disposed of the application to vary or cancel a restraining order, the clerk is to notify the person of how the application was disposed of.
44. When cancellation takes effect
The cancellation of a restraining order has effect —
(a) if another restraining order is made when the original order is cancelled, at the time the new order takes effect; or
(b) otherwise, at the conclusion of the hearing at which the order was cancelled.
45. Provisions about children
(1) No restraining order is to be made against a child whose age is less than 10 years.
(2) In an application to vary or cancel a restraining order against a child, section 45 of the Young Offenders Act 1994 applies as if the matter were proceedings for an offence.
(3) If the Children’s Court hears an application for a restraining order under section 38 against a person or an application to vary or cancel a restraining order against a person in the belief that the person is a child when in fact the person is not a child —
(a) as soon as it becomes aware the person is not a child, the Children’s Court is to transfer the matter to the Magistrates Court; and
(b) the Children’s Court proceedings are not, for that reason, invalidated; and
(c) an order made by the Children’s Court before it became aware the person was not a child, is as valid and has the same effect as if it had been made by the Magistrates Court.
(4) If the Magistrates Court hears an application for a restraining order under section 38 against a person or an application to vary or cancel a restraining order against a person in the belief that the person is not a child when in fact the person is a child —
(a) as soon as it becomes aware the person is a child, the Magistrates Court is to transfer the matter to the Children’s Court; and
(b) the Magistrates Court proceedings are not, for that reason, invalidated; and
(c) an order made by the Magistrates Court before it became aware the person was a child, is as valid and has the same effect as if it had been made by the Children’s Court.
(5) If a court transfers a matter to another court under this section, the registrar of each court is to give effect to the transfer.
[Section 45 amended: No. 59 of 2004 s. 141.]
46. Breach of restraining order
A person against whom a restraining order was made under this Part who contravenes the order commits an offence.
Penalty: $5 000.
47. Appeals
(1) A person aggrieved by the decision of a court relating to a restraining order under this Part may appeal against that decision in accordance with this section.
(2) If the decision was made by the Magistrates Court, the appeal is to be made in accordance with Part 7 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
(3) If the decision was made by the Children’s Court when constituted so as not to consist of or include a Judge, the appeal is to be made to the Supreme Court in accordance with section 41 of the Children’s Court of Western Australia Act 1988 as if the decision were a decision within the meaning of section 41(2) of that Act.
(4) If the decision was made by the Children’s Court when constituted so as to consist of or include a Judge, the appeal is to be made to the Court of Appeal in accordance with section 43 (other than subsections (2) and (3)) of the Children’s Court of Western Australia Act 1988 as if the decision were a decision within the meaning of section 43(3b) of that Act.
(5) If the decision was made by the District Court, the appeal is to be made to the Court of Appeal in accordance with section 79(1)(a) of the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969.
(6) If the decision was made by a Judge of the Supreme Court, the appeal is to be made to the Court of Appeal in accordance with section 58 of the Supreme Court Act 1935.
[Section 47 amended: No. 45 of 2004 s. 37; No. 59 of 2004 s. 141.]
48. Order not to conflict with family order
(1) If a court does not have jurisdiction to adjust a family order the court is not to make a restraining order that conflicts with that family order.
(2) In this section —
family order has the same meaning as it has in the Restraining Orders Act 1997.
Part 6 — Evidence
49. Accused presumed to know if person is a child
If, in proceedings for an offence under this Act, it is relevant whether or not a person was a child, it is to be conclusively presumed that the accused knew that the person was a child unless it is proved that, having taken all reasonable steps to find out the age of the person concerned, the accused believed on reasonable grounds, at the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, that the age of the person concerned was at least 18 years.
50. Person residing with child prostitute presumed to receive payment
If in a proceeding for an offence under section 17(1) it is proved that, at the time of the offence, the accused was residing with a prostitute who was a child, the accused is presumed to be guilty of the offence unless the contrary is proved.
51. Accused presumed to have allowed presence of child
If, in proceedings for an offence under section 21, it is proved that a child was at a place at a particular time, the accused is conclusively presumed to have allowed the child to enter or remain at the place unless it is proved that the accused did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that a child was at the place at that time.
52. Intention presumed in some cases
(1) A person loitering in or frequenting a place in circumstances giving reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person had an intention described in section 5(4)(b) or 6(3)(b) is to be presumed to have had that intention unless the contrary is proved.
(2) A person doing anything in circumstances giving reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person had an intention described in section 16(2) is to be presumed to have had that intention unless the contrary is proved.
[53. Deleted: No. 55 of 2012 s. 125.]
54. Averment that prostitution business carried on
In proceedings for an offence under sections 9 and 21(b) an averment by the prosecution that a person is or was carrying on a business involving the provision of prostitution is to be taken to have been proved unless the contrary is proved.
Part 7 — Miscellaneous
55. Legal proceedings
(1) A prosecution for an offence under this Act can only be commenced by a police officer.
(2) A court of summary jurisdiction dealing with an offence under this Act is to be constituted by a magistrate.
[Section 55 amended: No. 84 of 2004 s. 80.]
56. Protection of certain persons
(1) An action in tort does not lie against a person for anything that he or she has, in good faith, done as a police officer or when assisting a police officer in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act.
(2) The protection given by this section applies even though the thing done as described in subsection (1) may have been capable of being done whether or not this Act had been enacted.
(3) In this section, a reference to the doing of anything includes a reference to an omission to do anything.
57. Exchange of information between State authorities
(1) A State authority specified in subsection (4) may disclose to another State authority specified in subsection (4) any information that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, relevant to the performance of a function of the State authority to which the information is disclosed.
(2) If an administrative head referred to in subsection (4), in writing, requests another administrative head referred to in subsection (4) to disclose any information, the administrative head receiving the request is to comply with the request unless the exception in subsection (3) applies.
(3) The Commissioner of Police may decline to disclose information requested under subsection (2) if to do so would be likely to compromise an investigation.
(4) The State authorities specified in this subsection are —
(a) the Commissioner of Police (who is the administrative head), police officers, and persons employed in the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Police Act 1892;
(b) the chief executive officer of the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Young Offenders Act 1994 (who is the administrative head) and persons employed in that department;
(c) the chief executive officer of the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (who is the administrative head) and persons employed in that department.
(5) The authority given by this section to disclose information applies even though the disclosure may be contrary to any duty of confidentiality imposed by law or otherwise arising and whether or not the duty of confidentiality arose before this Act commenced but, without limiting the authority given by this section to disclose information, a person to whom confidential information is disclosed under this section is bound by the same duty of confidentiality as applied to the person making the disclosure.
(6) A person making a disclosure under this section incurs no civil or criminal liability as a result of the disclosure, and is not to be regarded for any purpose as being in breach of the duty of confidentiality.
(1) A person to whom this subsection applies must not, whether directly or indirectly, record, disclose, or make use of any information obtained in the course of duty except —
(a) in the course of duty; or
(b) as required or allowed by this Act or any other written law; or
(c) for the purpose of proceedings for an offence under this Act; or
(d) with the written authority of the Minister or the person to whom the information relates; or
(e) in other prescribed circumstances.
Penalty: $5 000.
(2) The prohibition in subsection (1) extends to the giving of evidence or the production of a book, document or record in civil proceedings in a court or tribunal.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the disclosure of statistical or other information that could not reasonably be expected to lead to the identification of any person to whom it relates.
(4) Subsection (1) applies to a person who is or was —
(a) a police officer; or
(b) a person employed in the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Police Act 1892.
59. Liability of officers for offence by body corporate
*The Criminal Code* section 41 (which provides for the criminal liability of officers of a body corporate) applies to an offence under a provision of this Act listed in the Table.
Table
s. 7(1)
s. 16(1) and (2)
s. 17(1)
s. 18(1)
s. 21
[Section 59 inserted: No. 9 of 2023 s. 122.]
[60. Deleted: No. 4 of 2004 s. 58.]
61. Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.
(2) The regulations may exempt a place described in the regulations from being a place that is or is in the view or within hearing of a public place for the purposes of this Act or for any particular purpose.
62. Regulations relating to restraining order applications
(1) Without limiting section 61, the Governor may make regulations as to the making of applications for the making, variation or cancellation of orders under Part 5 and the procedure on the hearing of such applications.
(2) References in subsection (1) to an application for the variation or cancellation of an order refer also to an application seeking leave to make an application for the variation or cancellation of an order.
[63. Deleted: No. 33 of 2003 s. 4.]
[64. Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
Schedule 1 — Offence history that may be an element of a section 14 offence
[s. 14(c)]
An offence under any of the following enactments:
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996
the deleted s. 60
The Criminal Code
s. 181
s. 186
s. 204A
s. 217
s. 218
s. 219
s. 220
s. 278 2 or 279
s. 281A 2
s. 297
s. 320(2) or (3)
s. 321(2) or (3)
s. 321A(4)
s. 324, 325, or 326
s. 327
s. 329
s. 330(2) or (3)
s. 332
s. 333
s. 338A, 338B, or 338C
s. 343
s. 396, 397, or 398
Children and Community Services Act 2004
s. 192(1) or (2)
[Schedule 1 amended: No. 34 of 2004 Sch. 2 cl. 20(3); No. 10 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 3; No. 2 of 2008 s. 69; No. 21 of 2010 s. 14.]
[Schedule 2 omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
dline
Notes
This is a compilation of the Prostitution Act 2000 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table. For provisions that have not yet come into operation see the uncommenced provisions table.
Compilation table
Short title
Number and year
Assent
Commencement
Prostitution Act 2000
17 of 2000
22 Jun 2000
s. 1 and 2: 22 Jun 2000; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 29 Jul 2000 (see s. 2 and Gazette 28 Jul 2000 p. 3987)
Prostitution Amendment Act 2002
9 of 2002
28 Jun 2002
28 Jun 2002 (see s. 2)
Prostitution Amendment Act 2003
33 of 2003
23 Jun 2003
23 Jun 2003 (see s. 2)
Sentencing Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2003 s. 87
50 of 2003
9 Jul 2003
15May 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 May 2004 p. 1445)
Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004 s. 58
4 of 2004
23 Apr 2004
21 May 2004 (see s. 2)
Children and Community Services Act 2004 Sch. 2 cl. 20
34 of 2004
20 Oct 2004
1 Mar 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Feb 2006 p. 695)
Acts Amendment (Court of Appeal) Act 2004 s. 37
45 of 2004
9 Nov 2004
1 Feb 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Jan 2005 p. 163)
Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 s. 141
59 of 2004
23 Nov 2004
1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128)
Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004 s. 82
70 of 2004
8 Dec 2004
31 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Jan 2005 p. 163)
Criminal Procedure and Appeals (Consequential and Other Provisions) Act 2004 s. 78 and 80
84 of 2004
16 Dec 2004
2 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7129 (correction in Gazette 7 Jan 2005 p. 53))
Reprint 1: The Prostitution Act 2000 as at 22 Jul 2005 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Children and Community Services Act 2004)
Censorship Amendment Act 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 3
10 of 2006
8 May 2006
10 Jun 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 9 Jun 2006 p. 2029)
Nurses and Midwives Act 2006 Sch. 3 cl. 18
50 of 2006
6 Oct 2006
19 Sep 2007 (see s. 2 and Gazette 18 Sep 2007 p. 4711)
Criminal Investigation (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 Pt. 13
59 of 2006
16 Nov 2006
1 Jul 2007 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Jun 2007 p. 2838)
Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Act 2008 s. 69
2 of 2008
12 Mar 2008
27 Apr 2008 (see s. 2 and Gazette 24 Apr 2008 p. 1559)
Medical Practitioners Act 2008 Sch. 3 cl. 48
22 of 2008
27 May 2008
1 Dec 2008 (see s. 2 and Gazette 25 Nov 2008 p. 4989)
Child Pornography and Exploitation Material and Classification Legislation Amendment Act 2010 s. 14
21 of 2010
7 Jul 2010
28 Aug 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 27 Aug 2010 p. 4105)
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010 Pt. 5 Div. 42
35 of 2010
30 Aug 2010
18 Oct 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 1 Oct 2010 p. 5075‑6)
Criminal Investigation (Covert Powers) Act 2012 Pt. 10 3
55 of 2012
3 Dec 2012
1 Mar 2013 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 25 Jan 2013 p. 271)
Reprint 2: The Prostitution Act 2000 as at 13 Sep 2013 (includes amendments listed above)
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Amendment Act 2018 s. 116
4 of 2018
19 Apr 2018
1 Dec 2018 (see s. 2(d) and Gazette 13 Nov 2018 p. 4427‑8)
Directors’ Liability Reform Act 2023 Pt. 3 Div. 49
9 of 2023
4 Apr 2023
5 Apr 2023 (see s. 2(j))
Uncommenced provisions table
To view the text of the uncommenced provisions see Acts as passed on the WA Legislation website.
Short title
Number and year
Assent
Commencement
Prostitution Amendment Act 2008 Pt. 2
13 of 2008
14 Apr 2008
To be proclaimed (see s. 2(b))
Other notes
1 The provisions in this Act amending those Acts have been omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).
2 The Criminal Code s. 278 and 281A were deleted by the Criminal Law Amendment (Homicide) Act 2008 s. 10 and s. 13 respectively.
3 The Criminal Investigation (Covert Powers) Act 2012 s. 108 and 110 read as follows:
Term used: commencement day
In this Part —
commencement day means the day on which this Part comes into operation.
Savings provision relating to Prostitution Act 2000
(1) In this section —
former authorisation means an authorisation under the Prostitution Act 2000 section 35(1) as in force immediately before the day on which Part 10 comes into operation.
(2) A former authorisation in force immediately before the commencement day, is, on and after the commencement day, to be taken to be an authority as defined in section 5 granted on the commencement day and Part 2 applies, with any necessary modifications, to that authority.
Defined terms
[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]