Under the Tattooing Industry Control Act 2015 (SA) some people are automatically prohibited from providing tattooing services, and additionally, the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs can disqualify a person from providing tattooing services.

Tattooing services is defined broadly and includes owning the business or even tattooing someone for no fee or reward [s 4].

The main groups automatically disqualified under the Act include:

In addition to this, the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs has broad power to disqualify a person from providing tattooing services if the person has been involved in various types of criminal activity. This includes some drug offences, indictable offences involving violence, some assault offences, some Firearms offences, and those with links to serious and organised crime [see s 8 and reg 4 Tattooing Industry Control Regulations 2016 (SA)].

A disqualified person who provides tattooing services is guilty of an offence [s 7 Tattooing Industry Control Act 2015 (SA)].

Maximum penalty:

Natural person - 4 years imprisonment

Body corporate - $250 000

Anyone who proposes to be a provider of tattooing services has to give notice to the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs [s 13].

Maximum penalty: Natural person - 1 year imprisonment ; Body corporate - $100 000

Any person starting employment (paid or unpaid) providing tattooing services must notify the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs within 28 days [s 14].

Maximum penalty: $100 000 or 1 year imprisonment

There are also provisions for record keeping and failing to follow directions of authorised officers which also have high penalties [see for example s 12, s 16].

Keeping some items, such as firearms, weapons or explosives in a place where tattooing services are provided is an offence [s 21].

Maximum penalty: 2 years imprisonment

Exemptions

A tattooing service is exempt from the provisions of the Act if it consists of only cosmetic tattooing (resembling makeup), or tattooing performed on a person in the course of medical treatment [reg 8 Tattooing Industry Control Regulations 2016 (SA)].

Additionally, the Minister can grant exemptions under the Act [s 23].

Forms and more information:

See the Consumer and Business Services website: http://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/