Tattoo industry breaches and penalties
On this page you'll find information about the penalties for tattoo industry offences. These fines are for individuals—corporations could face up to 5 times the maximum penalty.
Inspectors have the legal authority to make sure you don't break the law—you must follow their lawful directions or risk a fine.
These offences relate to non-compliance with inspectors.
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Making a false or misleading statement to an inspector, police officer or the Chief Executive, Office of Fair Trading (OFT) | $33,380 or 2 years imprisonment |
Giving a false or misleading document to an inspector, police officer or the Chief Executive, OFT (unless you declare that it's false or misleading) | $33,380 or 2 years imprisonment |
Obstructing an inspector or police officer (without a reasonable excuse) | $10,014 |
Failing to show your licence to an inspector or police officer | $3,338 |
These offences relate to your licence.
Cancellation or suspension of licence
Find out the reasons your licence can be cancelled or suspended.
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Failing to return a cancelled or suspended licence within 14 days | $3,338 |
Failing to advise the Chief Executive, Office of Fair Trading (OFT), within 7 business days, that you're aware of a reason we should cancel or suspend your licence | $6,676 |
Change of licence details
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Failing to advise the Chief Executive, OFT, about any changes to your personal details within 14 business days of the change | $6,676 |
Failing to advise the Chief Executive, OFT, about any changes to your licence or licence application within 14 business days of the change | $6,676 |
Conditions of licence
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Breaching a condition of your licence | $6,676 |
Unlawful use of licence
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Disposing of, selling, hiring out or lending your licence to another person | $6,676 |
The person in charge of a tattoo parlour must have a tattoo operator licence. If they don’t, the premises is unlicensed.
We can issue an interim closure of unlicensed premises and a magistrate may order its long-term closure—you must not continue to work at closed premises.
These offences relate to your place of business.
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Failing to obey a closure order | $16,690 |
Failing to submit a Change in certain particulars form within 20 days of a change in staffing | $6,676 |
Failing to display your licence at your place of business | $6,676 |
These offences relate to your records.
Procedures log
You must use the Procedures log to record any procedures that you (or your employees) do on the premises.
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to make an entry into the log at the time of a procedure | $33,380 |
Failing to keep a logbook in the approved form for a calendar year | $16,690 |
Failing to keep logbooks for 3 years after the end of a calendar year | $16,690 |
Other records
Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
Failing to keep records in English | $33,380 |
Failing to keep records on your licensed premises at all times | $33,380 |
Unlicensed work in the tattoo industry is against the law. These penalties relate to unlicensed work.
| Offence | First offence | Second offence | Third offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrying out a body art tattooing business without a valid licence | $83,450 | $116,830 | $166,900 |
| Performing tattooing work without a valid licence | $83,450 | $116,830 | $166,900 |
| Employing an unlicensed person to do tattooing work | $83,450 | $116,830 | $166,900 |