Swapping Secrets
People, Policy and Pleasure: Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller explains how Sydney built safer adult spaces
, 57 min
How careful planning rules and local councils have kept Sydney's adult venues safe for decades, from the Disorderly Houses Act to planning reform. A look at how good regulation protects communities and the venues that serve them.
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Episode notes
From Swapping Secrets, as published with the episode.
In this episode of Swapping Secrets, we explore people, policy and pleasure podcast conversations with Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller, unpacking the hidden history of sex-on-premises venues in Sydney and how thoughtful legislation has shaped safer adult communities.
From the legacy of the Disorderly Houses Act to the Bodyline precedent, police discretion, planning reform, and the role of local councils, this conversation explores how rules and boundaries can actually create safer, more expressive spaces. The episode also draws powerful parallels between policy, consent, communication, and freedom - both inside adult venues and across society more broadly.
If you’ve ever wondered how sex-positive spaces are protected, why policy matters, or what Sydney can teach the wider world about safety, autonomy and respect, this one’s for you.