Definition of an introduction agent
An introduction agent is a person or company in the business of offering an introduction service that aims to match or provide individuals' details for personal relationships or social outings.
You do not have to register to become an introduction agent, unless you fall into the category of disqualified persons or corporations. In that situation, you need permission from the Business Licensing Authority (BLA).
Disqualified persons or corporations
Individuals must not act as an introduction agent if they:
- are under 18 years of age
- are an insolvent under administration
- are a represented person within the meaning of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986
- are a licensee or an approved manager under the Sex Work Act 1994
- have in the last five years been found guilty of an offence:
- involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by 3 months or more in prison. For information about spent convictions, view Spent convictions
- under the Introduction Agents Act 1997 or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction
- under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction, in providing or offering to provide an introduction service.
Corporations must not act as an introduction agent if:
- one or more of its directors is disqualified from acting as an introduction agent
- it is an externally-administered body corporate.
A body corporate must also not act as an introduction agent if within the last 5 years it has:
- been found guilty of an offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by 3 months or more in prison. For information about spent convictions, view Spent convictions
- been found guilty of an offence under the Introduction Agents Act 1997 or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction
- been found guilty of an offence under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (ACL), or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction, in providing or offering to provide an introduction service
Permission
You must apply to the BLA for permission to act as an introduction agent, or be a director of a corporation that acts as an introduction agent, if you are:
- disqualified from acting as an introduction agent and are not under the age of 18
- a represented person within the meaning of the Guardianship and Administrative Act 1986
- a brothel licensee or approved manager.
To apply for permission you are required to complete and lodge the Application for permission – introduction agents (Word, 766KB). Lodgement details are on the form.
Granting permission
To decide whether or not to grant permission, the BLA will consider:
- public interest
- public protection
- maintaining industry standards
- the applicant's age
- the nature and seriousness of an offence (if applicable) and the applicant's remorse over the offence
- why the applicant was disqualified.
Exempt activities
Under the ACL, you are not acting as an introduction agent if:
- you provide the activity for a community purpose
- there is no significant commercial purpose or profit for you or any other person
- you publish or make available (in print or electronic media) details of people seeking a personal or social relationship with one or more others, and you enable them to make contact with each other
- you are an information provider, such as a newspaper, who publishes or supplies details of people seeking relationships and:
- you have no direct contact with the people seeking the relationship
- the people receiving the information are not obliged to use your service again
- you provide your service for a fee of less than $250.
- you organise a social activity (such as a dance) with the intention of enabling people to meet, and:
- the activity is publicly advertised and open to anyone willing to pay the admission cost, and that is the only cost an attendee is obliged to pay the organiser
- no attendee is placed under any obligation to the organiser other than that concerning the attendee’s conduct at the activity.
- you provide a sex work service as a licensee or approved manager under the Sex Work Act 1994
- you provide a means that enables another person to offer to provide an introduction service.
Penalties may apply if you provide, or offer to provide, an introduction service when disqualified from acting as an introduction agent. View Restrictions and penalties - introduction agents.