Laws changed for ‘body art’

By Bridget Brady
CASEY body artists have welcomed the new body piercing legislation, saying the changes are no different to their own policies.
Changes to the legislation, which came into effect on 1 January, make it an offence to perform a body piercing on someone under the age of 16 without written consent of a parent or guardian.
It is now also an offence to perform an intimate body piercing on a person under the age of 18 and the penalty for tattoing someone under the age of 18 has increased.
Owner of Purple Haze Tattooz in Narre Warren, Mick Hayes, said the new legislation provided a welcome addition of professionalism for the industry.
“It steps us above the backyarders,” he said. “I agree with the legislation and welcome it.”
Manager of Celtic SunBody Art in Cranbourne, Tina Corbett, said the new legislation was in line with her business’ policy of many years.
“Nothing has to change for us. It’s common sense really.”
Ms Corbett said the piercer at her business had his own set of standards he followed during his work in relation to age and parental consent.
The council’s environmental health officers will conduct compliance inspections of all registered health premises this year to ensure the changes had been implemented.
Casey’s manager of community safety Caroline Bell said the changes to the legislation placed the onus on piercing businesses to ensure a minor had parental permission.
“The City of Casey encourages all piercing establishments in the municipality to ensure they do the right thing and adhere to the changes to the legislation … they can be fined,” Ms Bell said.