Sex gifts for Australian businessmen: The gifts are for legal brothels, not the streets

BBC News ^ | Friday, 21 December, 2001, 13:17 GMT | Phil Mercer in Sydney

[aculeus]

Sex romps are being given out as Christmas bonuses by some of Australia's biggest retailers.

Sales staff are increasingly being offered sex parties at brothels instead of cash. One brothel madam told BBC News Online she was struggling to keep up with demand from corporate customers.

"December is our busiest month," said Mary-Anne Kenworth, who runs a business in Perth, Western Australia.

"We increase our turnover by at least 25% during the festive season."

She said it was no different to buying someone a box of chocolates.

Sex perks

But the practice of providing sex for salesmen has caused dismay among family groups and politicians.

"This is a case of Aussie bloke-ism gone too far," said Western Australia Premier Geoff Gallop. "We all might joke about it but the fact is, it has the potential to destroy families and relationships."

Robbie Swan from the Eros Foundation, an umbrella organisation representing the Australian sex industry, said firms should not be criticised for offering these sorts of inducements to workers.

"It's an extremely popular way of paying bonuses," he said. "Even politicians have been known to take friends to a brothel."

There are 900 legal brothels in Australia. Industry watchers estimate there are 12 million visits per year - or two for every Aussie male.

"Welcome to the 21st century," said Mr Swab. "Commercial sex is a reality.

"It's no different from buying a car or a meal."

On the side

It is lucrative too. Brothels, which are legal in most Australian states and territories, generate more than $500m (Aus $987m) every year.

Why can't we stick to the old ways of a bottle of whiskey or a free pass to a restaurant? John Barridge, Australian Family Association

A company sending four clients to a brothel would expect to pay around $500 (Aus $987) for a spa, massage, sex and a complimentary drink or, according to Robbie Swan, "a nice cup of coffee."

It is not just valued staff who are rewarded with sex parties. One senior electrical executive was recently sacked for taking clients on a boat trip with prostitutes. He was dismissed for "unacceptable behaviour" when pictures appeared in a local newspaper.

Offering the services of call girls or strippers are clearly not the sort of behaviour most companies will openly admit to.

One salesman, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told the BBC these sleazy incentives were made available to staff and customers "on a regular basis, especially at Christmas."

Brothel madam Mary-Anne Kenworth said it was just a way for businesses to remember the people who have made them money.

"It is a time to reward people either with a card or one of our girls," she said.

Tax reward

John Barridge from the Australian Family Association said he was "stunned".

"We don't think it's appropriate for the Christmas season," he said. "Why can't we stick to the old ways of a bottle of whiskey or a free pass to a restaurant?

"Why do we have to go to these extremes?"

What will fuel the anger of the anti-sex trade lobby even more is that bosses who provide staff with a Christmas thank-you at a brothel may even be entitled to a tax break.

Ray Regan, the President of the National Tax and Accountants' Association, said providing staff with something more than a card at Christmas could be very cost effective.

"Most employers who provide free visits to brothels will be surprised to learn that they will be entitled to a tax deduction for these gifts," he said.

"We expect that family and church groups will be outraged that firms who provide these incentives will be given various tax benefits."

[aculeus]

She said it was no different to buying someone a box of chocolates.

And much less fattening.

[TomB]

So, in Australia, I can buy someone a BJ, but I can't buy them a gun?

Being upside down for all these years have made them nutso.

[Savage Beast]

Hope you don't mind being flamed, Acu. There's an awful lot of prudes around here.

[aculeus]

Hope you don't mind being flamed, Acu.

I report, they decide.

[mercy]

But Mummy! Why shouldn't I be a whore? It's legal and I'll make lots of money. If the government sanctifies it then It's ok. It's no big neal Mummy. So I boff a few thousand guys. When I've tired of it I'll just quit, get married and have a normal life.

[Salgak]

"Candy is dandy but sex won't rot your teeth. . ."

-attributed to Mae West

[MinuteGal]

Will these businesses also pay divorce lawyer bills for their married staff and customers if the wives find out? Some people down under must be nibbling too many fermented eucalyptus leaves.

Leni

[peabers]

So, in Australia, I can buy someone a BJ, but I can't buy them a gun?

We believe in "make love, not war".

[tet68]

Maybe the wives get to go too?

What's sauce for the goose is ,well sauce for the gander.
Er well,it's the liquid that greases relationships,er,ah. The sqeaky goose gets the sauce.....Maybe I better just stop now.

[mercy]

So those who deplore a system that encourages women (YOUNG women) to degrade themselves like animals are prudes ey? Tell me you'd be so liberal minded if YOUR daughter turned out to be a trollop.

[Cloud William]

"Even politicians have been known to take friends to a brothel."

I am shocked... SHOCKED to find out that politicians visit bordellos!

All this while, I thought that the prostitutes were visiting the politicians - presumable to observe the *real* whores and take notes. ;-)

[TomB]

There's an awful lot of prudes around here.

They're not prudes, they're just pissed they can't get laid.

(or can't afford it...)

[Harp]

Welcome to the 21st century," said Mr Swab. "Commercial sex is a reality. "It's no different from buying a car or a meal."

Big drivable whores with wheels! Ones that go well with ketchup!

Steve Irwin has been holding back on us this whole time.

[Savage Beast]

I'd hate it. I would never tolerate it. It would never happen. Guess you got me figured out all right.

[Savage Beast]

I think you have identified the problem--and expressed it eloquently.

[Eala]

Hope you don't mind being flamed, Acu. There's an awful lot of prudes around here.

Prude Pride? :-)

[TADSLOS]

Buggery, down under...

[knews_hound]

It is a good thing that this practice has not yet been imported to the US.

If it were, the associated increase in productivity would soon lead to an inflationary spiral that even Allen Greenspan wouldent be able to solve.

knews hound

[riley1992]

Uh oh. That ping list looks like a car accident.

[a_witness]

Brothel madam Mary-Anne Kenworth said it was just a way for businesses to remember the people who have made them money. "It is a time to reward people either with a card or one of our girls your wife, sister, or daughter," she said.

[FreeLibertarian]

Prude Pride? :-)

LOL

[jjbrouwer]

car accidents

Inspired by OneP's auto crash, I am going to ping every Aussie/Antipodean type I can think of! (Mel Gibson was a lucky guess BTW).

[Lessismore]

"We increase our turnover by at least 25% during the festive season."

I bet they do.

[peabers]

Only drawback is that the Aussie women are not internationally known as being, shall we say, the most pretty.

You must not have gotten around very much. As an ex-pat Yank living in Perth, I find Aussie women far more attractive than American women. For one, there's not as many fatties, they don't trowl on the makeup, and they don't wear big hair. But best of all, Aussie women aren't bossy boot bitches.

And for your information, Ausralian women are considered very highly internationally. Now, back under your rock.

[shaggy eel]

,,, have you seen that advert for FOSTERs where the groom loses his can of beer in the fountain and the bride dunks herself to fetch it for him? Cultural celebration, nothing less! So, where exactly are these brothels in Perth?

[shaggy eel]

,,, missing you on this thread - come in spinner!

[jjbrouwer]

where exactly are these brothels?

You are asking for research purposes, naturally. Nothing more.

PS - there seems some interest in taking advantage of the new facilities on FR to set up a commonwealth forum which would house many stories like this. Obviously they would get posted on the main forum too but it might be an idea. I pinged you and peabs John Robinson's thread.

THE THREAD

[shaggy eel]

,,, hmmmmmmm.

[peabers]

So, where exactly are these brothels in Perth?

I wouldn't have a clue mate ;-)

However, I once did some historical research in Hay Street, Kalgoorlie.

[KEVinSHANNONnz]

,,, government research grant?

[shaggy eel]

,,, Peabers - post 36 was my reply, not Kev's. We're switching in and out on screen names as I've just set him up on FR this afternoon and I'm leearnin' him how it all worx. He knows the ",,," before text is a copyright thing!

[jjbrouwer]

You are just messin' with our minds here!

[peabers]

G'day Kev, welcome to FR.

No, it wasn't a government grant, but I was able to claim it back from the mining company I was working for as an entertainment expense.

[shaggy eel]

,,, it's very hot and still on the Kapiti Coast today - a few more beers and my mind... well.

[peabers]

I'm surprised that the BBC go the names of the main players wrong. It should be John Barich, and I believe the madames name is Kenworthy.

[shaggy eel]

,,, Kev does exist - he's got a homepage and everything! Honest, guys! Don't give me credit for being creative enough to mess with your minds! [LOL]

[RightOnline]

"There's an awful lot of prudes around here.

"They're not prudes, they're just pissed they can't get laid. (or can't afford it...)"

Gee. Thanks for hangin' out and classin' up the joint, Einstein.

[jjbrouwer]

Kev runs the ACT page? I couldn't get the link to work, probably because my computer hates me!

[supercat]

But Mummy! Why shouldn't I be a whore? It's legal and I'll make lots of money. If the government sanctifies it then It's ok. It's no big neal Mummy. So I boff a few thousand guys. When I've tired of it I'll just quit, get married and have a normal life.

If I had a daughter I wouldn't want her to be a whore or a slut; I can't see that I'd see the former as any worse than the latter, though, and many many parents don't seem to care if their daughters are sluts.

Actually, if I had to choose I'd would probably rather my daughter be a prostitute someplace where it was legal than be a slut who spread her legs for anyone who offered her a drink. Of course, I would much rather she be neither, but if that wasn't possible she would not only be safer as a legal prostitute, but also be able to retire once she made enough money (while women who spread their legs for 'attention' in a vain attempt to find self-worth may never get enough)

[klee]

Now why arent I surprised you managed to find you way to this posting

Who bought the popcorn?

[TomB]

Gee. Thanks for hangin' out and classin' up the joint, Einstein.

OK, time out.....

Let's both take a moment and scroll back up to the top of the page and look at the title of this thread.

.........waiting...........

Now, just WHAT were you saying about "classin' up the joint"?

(something about FLEAS and laying down with DOGS)

[RightOnline]

I'll see ya and raise ya. Now............scroll up and read EXACTLY what you wrote in Reply #12.

I'm waiting..............

[TomB]

I'll see ya and raise ya. Now............scroll up and read EXACTLY what you wrote in Reply #12.

Yea?

A tacky comment for a tacky thread. If you don't want to read something that will offend your sensibilities, avoid threads about "Sex gifts for Australian businessmen".

[RightOnline]

Relax. You are incapable of "offending my sensibilities". I just responded to a truly rotten thing for anyone to say. Maybe you were just being sarcastic in that reply; fair enough. Maybe not. I think not. In which case, that made the comment (the aforementioned Reply #12) the words of someone going out of their way to be a jerk. Being a jerk has nothing to do with the subject of a thread; it's a reflection of the person who wrote the words, not the topic at hand.

Understand a little better? Well, anyway, Merry Christmas.