Text as at 26 April 2026

This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

53D Conducting a business in circumstances involving sexual servitude

(1)A person (A) commits an offence if—

(a)A conducts a business that involves the provision of commercial sexual services by another person (B); and

(b)B is not free to stop providing those services, or to leave the place or area where B provides those services, because A or another person (C)—

(i)uses force against B or another person (D); or

(ii)makes a threat to, or against, B or D; or

(iii)unlawfully detains B or D; or

(iv)engages in fraud or misrepresentation (including by omission) in relation to B or D; or

(v)uses a manifestly excessive debt, or purported debt, owed by B or D; and

(c)A knows that engaging in the conduct referred to in paragraph (b) will, or probably will, cause B—

(i)to provide, or to continue to provide, commercial sexual services; or

(ii)to not be free to leave the place or area where B provides commercial sexual services.

(2)A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable to level 4 imprisonment (15 years maximum).

(3)For the purposes of subsection (1), conducting a business includes—

(a)taking any part in the management of the business; or

(b)exercising control or direction over the business; or

(c)providing finance for the business.