Review and Modernisation of Tasmania's Tattooing Guidelines

We, the undersigned residents of Tasmania, draw to the attention of the House:

That section 12 of Tasmania's Guidelines for Tattooing introduced in 1998 under the Public Health Act 1997 prohibits mobile tattooing businesses regardless of their hygiene standards, infection-control procedures, operator qualifications or purpose-built facilities.

Tattooing practices, hygiene and infection-control standards have evolved significantly over the past three decades and the current blanket prohibition doesn't reflect modern industry standards.

Current guidelines limit opportunities for innovative Tasmanian small business and provide no pathway for compliant mobile studios to be assessed on their individual merits.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

1.       Review and modernise Tasmania's tattooing guidelines to reflect current industry practices and infection controls standards.

2.       Amend section 12 of the guidelines for Tattooing to establish a licensing and approval pathway for mobile tattoo studios that can demonstrate compliance with the same hygiene, infection-control and public health standards required of a fixed studio.