QUEENSLAND'S crime watchdog has rejected calls from licensed brothels for escort services, saying they could lead to sex trafficking and organised crime.

A year-long investigation by the Crime and Misconduct Commission recommended a crackdown on illegal sex workers who masquerade as social escorts.

The CMC also recommended the State Government maintain a ban on brothels from allowing prostitutes to make house calls, saying it posed safety risks for workers.

This was despite support for escort services from sex industry regulator the Prostitution Licensing Authority and brothel owners who yesterday warned the decision could send many to the wall.

Self Health for Queensland Workers in the Sex Industry state manager Cheryl Matthews yesterday branded the findings a ``load of absolute garbage''.

Ms Matthews said the CMC ``haven't looked at the industry as a whole -- they've basically done nothing to support the sex worker at all''.

Queensland Adult Business Association spokesman Nick Inskip said the recommendations would cripple the legal brothels and accused the CMC of ignoring advice from the PLA and industry.

``The report is 120 pages of nothing that will only protect and entrench the illegal industry. If I was an illegal operator I would be rubbing my hands together with glee at this moment,'' Mr Inskip said. He said business owners would release their own report to the Government next week.

CMC chairman Robert Needham said: ``We were unable to find any evidence that legalising out-call services from licensed brothels or escort agencies in Queensland would improve the health and safety of sex workers providing these services, or minimise the size of the illegal industry.

``(We believe) it could lead to more organised crime and sex trafficking, as the industry attempted to meet the increased demand for sex workers and the illegal industry competed with the legal industry.

``We are now firmly of the view that the risks are simply not worth taking.''

The CMC called on the Government to crackdown on the illegal industry, introducing new offences to restrict their advertising and disconnect phone numbers used by social escorts who offered paid sex.

Scarlet Alliance, the industry body for sex workers in Australia, supported the CMC's decision not to expand the licensed sector.

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