Recent amendments to the controversial Tattoo Parlour Bill NSW, which introduced Australia's first occupational licensing regime for the tattoo industry with the sole objective of identifying organised crime within the industry, has now further restricted entry of overseas tattooists traveling to NSW.

The new amendment now requires that visiting tattooists receive an invitation from convention organisers in order to be able to visit NSW to work for a period of 30 days. This will be the only time tattooists from overseas can enter NSW to work. There is currently only one tattoo convention run in NSW per year. Huge power is now given to the convention owners to decide and dictate who can visit NSW. Convention organisers, who are not tattooists have no understanding of the culture or practices of the industry. 

The practice of overseas and interstate tattooists, who also face problems with entry into NSW under the regime, plays an important role in facilitating the conferencing and sharing of knowledge, which in an industry with no current accreditation available, remains the most important element of industry's internal growth as well as promoting the high level of practice professional tattooists pride themselves on.

We ask that this amendment and indeed the Tattoo Parlours Bill itself be reviewed and amended to better reflect the workings and culture of the professional tattoo industry in Australia today.

Please support the professional tattooing community in our move to see responsible regulation for the industry.

Thank you,

The Australian Tattooists Guild