The 'residential area' bit has nothing to do with it. It is illegal to run a brothel anywhere in Western Australia.
This is a political ploy to pave the way for the Liberal Govt's fucked up new sex industry legislation - nothing else. Brothels will be increasingly raided and exposed in the media over the coming months, particularly Asian parlours and/or those in residential areas, to prove a point that the new laws are needed. Asian sex workers are the perfect target, because trafficking/sex slave hysteria and inherent racism make it easier for the media to demonise them and the community to 'Other' them.
I know I say this a lot, but it's even more important at the moment: PLEASE be extra careful when giving details about individual sex workers and parlours on sites like these. If possible, don't be explicit about illegal acts (you are silly, BBS, unprotected DATY, etc) on the public forums (use PMs) and don't respond to requests for graphic detail from new members with one post to their name. The police can't act without evidence... don't do their job for them!
Also, please keep your eyes on legislative developments and, if at all possible, consider putting in a submission against the proposed new laws. Sex workers are not the only ones who will suffer under this legislation. For example, did you know they intend to include an extended prison term for clients who see sex workers who are coerced into working...WHETHER YOU KNEW THEY WERE COERCED, OR NOT?! Combined with Federal sex slavery laws and other legislation undermining a sex worker's perceived agency, clients could very easily find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Sorry to ramble about this again, but we REALLY need to do something about this fucked up proposal, before it's too late!