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.

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Inspection offences

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)	$32,260 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)	$32,260 or 2 years imprisonment
Obstructing an inspector or police officer (without a reasonable excuse)	$9,678
Failing to show your licence to an inspector or police officer	$3,226

Licence offences

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	$3,226
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	$6,452

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	$6,452
Failing to advise the Chief Executive, OFT, about any changes to your licence or licence application within 14 business days of the change	$6,452

Conditions of licence

Offence	Maximum penalty
Breaching a condition of your licence	$6,452

Unlawful use of licence

Offence	Maximum penalty
Disposing of, selling, hiring out or lending your licence to another person	$6,452

Premises offences

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	$16,130
Failing to submit a Change in certain particulars form within 20 days of a change in staffing	$6,452
Failing to display your licence at your place of business	$6,452

Recordkeeping offences

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	$32,260
Failing to keep a logbook in the approved form for a calendar year	$16,130
Failing to keep logbooks for 3 years after the end of a calendar year	$16,130

Other records

Offence	Maximum penalty
Failing to keep records in English	$32,260
Failing to keep records on your licensed premises at all times	$32,260

Unlicensed work offences

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	$80,650	$112,910 or 6 months in prison	$161,300 or 18 months in prison
Performing tattooing work without a valid licence	$80,650	$112,910 or 6 months in prison	$161,300 or 18 months in prison
Employing an unlicensed person to do tattooing work	$80,650	$112,910 or 6 months in prison	$161,300 or 18 months in prison