Abstract:
Brothels have been able to operate as legitimate commercial businesses in NSW for
over a decade. Despite this, brothels continue to be treated differently from other
commercial businesses with similar amenity impacts. The 'planning principles'
enunciated by the Land and Environment Court in Martyn v Hornsby Shire Council
[2004} have been highly influential in the differential treatment of brothels. These
planning principles are highly restrictive and go beyond traditional planning
concerns. This paper argues that these principles are animated by an aesthetic of
disgust. William Miller's text Anatomy of Disgust, provides insight into why brothels
may trigger disgust, due to their association with sex and immorality. The planning
principles reflect disgust reactions, particularly in terms of the desire to remove the
polluting and contaminating objects from the visual field. Finally, this paper
considers strategies for reform in light of the association of brothels with disgust.
