Industry Group Defends Controversial Australian Sex Shop

Eros Association, Australia's leading adult industry lobby, has advised the Warrnambool City Council to approve plans for a sex shop or risk losing taxpayer money. The proposal became an object of dispute immediately after business owner Deon Drake announced his intent to open the store.

Eros Association executive officer Fiona Patten told the Warrnambool Standard that there are no planning reasons to reject the shop.

"My understanding is that it meets every single requirement and guideline of the council and it is important that the council approve it rather than let it go through to the keeper at VCAT," said Patten.

According to the report, Patten said she had no doubt the shop would be approved by VCAT, a group of boards and tribunals that settle a range of public disputes. Patten said the council should not give in to a vocal minority.

"For every one person outraged there are another 100 who couldn't give a damn," she said.

To date, the council received a handful of individual objections to the shop. An organized group armed with a 1,000-person signature list also protested after Drake proposed the shop be built in an industrial area. Objectors were mostly part of a conservative organization called the South West Community Action Group.

Most of the group's objection was to the location of the shop, which Patten vehemently disputes. "Research in other areas around Australia had consistently found there were no adverse impacts from the opening of an adult shop," she told reporters.

A council spokeswoman told the Warrnambool Standard  that the application was expected to be considered at either of the next two general council meetings, depending on processing.