Your hours
You choose when you work, which bookings you accept and how often you work.
Escort work in Queensland: the law and your rights
Escort work is legal in Queensland. Here is what the 2024 changes mean if you work as an escort in Cairns.
Since 2 August 2024
Escort work is legal in Queensland
Queensland decriminalised sex work when the Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 commenced. The law now treats sex work as work.
An escort agency is a lawful business, regulated the same way as any other business in Queensland. The Prostitution Act 1999 was repealed, and the Prostitution Licensing Authority went with it.
- You do not need a licence, a permit or a registration to work as an escort.
- Police have no role in regulating sex work.
- If someone commits a crime against you, you report it the way anyone else would.
What is still a crime
Anyone under 18
Involving a person under 18 in commercial sexual services is a serious crime. Every escort at Velvet must be 18 or over, without exception.
Coercion
Threats, intimidation, assault, damaging property, or lying to make someone start or keep doing sex work are all crimes.
Drugging
Giving someone a substance to overpower them for a sexual act is a crime. Decriminalisation kept every offence that protects you.
Since 23 September 2024
Consent, stealthing and payment
Queensland moved to affirmative consent. Consent means actively agreeing, and you can withdraw it at any point.
The law names stealthing as a circumstance with no consent. That covers a condom that is not used, is removed or tampered with, or is knowingly allowed to fail.
A false promise of payment also removes consent. If a sex worker agrees because someone lied about paying, the law treats the act as rape or sexual assault. Both are crimes against you, and you decide if you report one.
Legal duties, not favours
Workplace health and safety law applies
Ordinary workplace health and safety law now covers escort work. Every place you work is a workplace, and a sex work business must:
- supply condoms, water-based lubricant and dams free of charge, in a range of sizes
- train you in how to use them
- consult you about safety measures and equipment
Protection from discrimination
Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 protects you from discrimination because of sex work activity. That means being treated less favourably because you are, or were, a sex worker.
The exemption that let accommodation providers turn sex workers away was removed in 2024. Ask any agency how it meets its duties before you join, and ask us too, on the phone call, before you agree to anything.
The law sets the floor
How work runs at Velvet
The details first
You get the time, the length of the booking and the address before you accept it.
You can say no
You can say no to any booking that does not feel right.
Your list
Your profile lists what you offer, and you decide what goes on it. A client books from that list and nothing outside it.
Your privacy
Only we see your personal details.
Support outside the agency
Respect Inc is Queensland's sex worker organisation, run by current and former sex workers. It has an office in Cairns, and its peer support, advice and supplies are free and confidential.
Scarlet Alliance is the national body. Neither is connected to any agency, and an agency worth joining will not mind you talking to either.
Thinking about applying? Our guide to becoming an escort in Cairns explains each step. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Ready to apply?
A short note about yourself and a few recent photos are enough to start.