Oz kids under 16 need written parental consent for body piercings

Melbourne, May 8 : Kids under 16 would be banned from having any part of their body pierced without written parental consent under new laws to be introduced by the NSW (New South Wales) Government.

And operators who carried out intimate piercings on minors would face fine of up to 22,000 dollars, while those who performed other types of piercings on children without parental permission could be fined 3,000.

"This is about making sure that children are protected from the health risks that can be associated with body piercing, which is a growing trend among young people," The Daily Telegraph quoted Community Services Minister Kevin Greene, as saying.

The tough parliamentary response comes after a growing concern over health risks that body piercing poses.

"I can't see any reason why a child under the age of 16 would need to expose their intimate body parts to strange adults for the sake of fashion or a trend," he said.

Dr Gabrielle Caswell from Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia was pleased with the proposed regulations and said even the most simple piercing can leave life-long scars.

"The concern is that things are fashionable and immediate because most adolescents work on a day-to-day timetable but they can deeply regret it later," she said.

Caswell said that piercings done without medical guidance could lead to serious infections and other ongoing problems.

"If you have an eyebrow piercing, for example, it can leave a scar where the hair doesn't grow back. And intimate piercing should be left in the adult domain," Caswell said.

Parents too welcomed the move saying they deserved to have the legal authority to determine when - and if - their children can having a piercing.

The proposed regulations have been signed off on by Cabinet and legislation is now being prepared and will be brought to Parliament shortly.

ANI