Mandurah massage parlour denies offering sexual services, City to investigate

A youth worker raised allegations this week the business was offering the services, which could contravene the City’s planning laws.

Josh, who asked for his surname to be withheld, said he went into the parlour for a massage only, but was propositioned to pay for sex after he had stripped.

“My wife told me to go and get a massage because I’ve been pretty sore,” he said.

“I went in there, it wasn’t that great, but I thought, that’s ok, cheap massage.

“And then [I] got in there, took my shirt off, she was massaging and then halfway through tapped me on the a**e and said, ‘you want the extras or you just here for the massage?’

“I just said, ‘the massage is fine’ and I was laying there thinking, do I just get up and leave now, or do I let her keep going?

“Luckily it was only five minutes after that [it ended].”

On Tuesday a woman who said she managed the business and a masseuse working behind the counter denied the business offered sexual services and said they only offered massages.

After complaining to the City of Mandurah, the office of his local member and police, the man was given a number for the Department of Commerce, but said he felt “palmed off” each step of the way.

He said he felt politicians and bureaucrats had given up on the issue.

“That’s what it came across as,” he said.

“I don’t know behind the scenes what people are working on or doing, but I just think it seems to be that they’ve given up,” he said.

“I don’t know whether it’s just a rub and tug or whether it’s full service – who knows – I wasn’t hanging around to find out and no-one seems to be able to do anything.”

City of Mandurah chief Mark Newman said an investigation had been launched into the man’s allegations.

“The City of Mandurah is investigating this matter, and we encourage the gentleman to contact the City to assist with this investigation,” he said.

While prostitution is not illegal in Western Australia, local governments place strict controls over where such businesses can operate.

In 2014, a Success man and his business which ran a Halls Head massage parlour was fined $85,000 and ordered to pay $100,000 in costs after a City of Mandurah prosecution into allegations he contravened a planning scheme.

This followed community concerns about the type of activities undertaken at the business’s Glencoe Parade address.

“I’m not upset that it’s happened to me – I can laugh about it,” Josh said.

“So it’s not so much anger, it’s just more like, surely they would at least have some morals.”

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