Dispute has arisen over the draconian IR laws currently being passed through the Senate and concurrently sending shock waves through the adult industry. Yes thats right, our honorable members of parliament, who by mere chance happen to have access to all the high quality xxx pornography and sex toys that they could want in the Sin City of Canberra, look set to introduce award rates in Strip Clubs. This could mean that an hour with a naked lap dancer could set you back $5010!!! A Simple Topless waitress, the mainstay at most footy finals games, would cost you the princely sum of $1100 a hour!

Hear me when I say that Im all for strippers earning more money - especially if they are particularly talented - but it is feared that the hardest-hit victims of this law (if passed) will be the strippers and other adult service providers themselves! The Eros Foundations Fiona Patten estimates that up to 90% of strippers would be put out of work if the claim succeeded. This is backed up by strip club owners who say the award claims will drive performers out of the industry and push the stripping industry further underground. This would work against the efforts of adult service lobbyist who have for years tried to achieve more uniform regulations.

Presenting at a time when online cam shows - such as the ones put on by RedHotPie members every night - are gaining prominence, this move could signal the death kneel of legal strip clubs around Australia.

Here are some of the features of the new Award System as written by Tracy Ong of The Australian (5 OCT '05)

- Striptease rates range from $110 for a three-minute "skimpy" striptease (not exposing nipples, buttocks or genitalia) to $660 for a 15-minute explicit striptease.
- Rates for a double striptease with sex act are $2060 per performer for 20 minutes ($5010 casual rates).
- Tabletop and podium dance rates range from $310 for a three-minute "skimpy" performance to $5100 for a 15-minute explicit performance.
- Topless waitresses to receive $510 an hour full time ($1100 an hour casual rate).
- Lapdance performers to be paid $1300 for a 15-minute "skimpy" lapdance, to $2100 for a 15-minute lapdance with full nudity.
- All stages to measure no less than 4sq m. Tabletops, podiums and stages for private dancing to be no smaller than 2.5sq m. All stages to be no lower than 50cm from the floor and no less than 2.5m from the ceiling.
- Stage floors to be covered in a safe non-slip surface (not carpet).
- Performers not to use oils or non-water-soluble oils on stage.
- Dressing room adjacent to stage to be no smaller than 2sq m per performer and fitted with a full-length mirror, one locker per performer, drinking water, appropriate ventilation, air conditioning, an electric fan and wash basin.
- Sixty per cent penalty rate on top of normal hourly rates for public holidays Strippers' union demands.

Seeing as I do appreciate the fine art of stripping performances and have numerous friends, male and female alike, in the industry, Ido believe that these prices will scare off your average punter and inevitably give rise to illegal underground strip clubs where there are no regulations whatsoever to protect the adult industry workers. In any case, if you would like to see free amateur strip shows put on by female members of RedHotPie go check out their Web Cam Chat rooms for hot and uncensored action tonight at a fraction of the cost of a Strip Club.