MPs persuaded to oppose body piercing

ADAVB’s submission to State Government on its proposed controls for body piercing and tattooing assisted a number of Members of Parliament during the debate on the legislation last week.

Speaking on the Summary Offences Amendment (Tattooing and Body Piercing) Bill, the Attorney-General, Mr Rob Hulls, told the Legislative Assembly: “Dentists oppose oral piercing to the point of calling it a public health hazard; the Australian Dental Association wrote a letter to that effect”.

The legislation makes it an offence for a body piercer to perform an intimate body piercing on a person under 18 and an offence for a body piercer to perform a non-intimate body piercing on a person under 16 without parental or guardian consent. This will not apply to health professionals acting in good faith. It prohibits scarification, tongue splitting, beading and branding (‘like processes’) on persons under 18 years; increases the maximum penalty for the existing offence of tattooing or performing a ‘like process’ on a person aged under 18; and makes it an offence for a body piercer to employ a person under the age of 16 years to perform illegal procedures.

Mr Hulls, Health Minister Mr Daniel Andrews, Mrs Jeanette Powell (National, Shepparton), Ms Fiona Richardson (Labor, Northcote), Mr Nicholas Kotsiras (Liberal, Bulleen), Mr Hugh Delahunty (National, Lowan) and Ms Danielle Green (Labor, Yan Yean) - each speaking for the Bill - all cited the Branch's support for the legislation.