BN- TATTOO parlour owners say they are sick of being treated like criminals as the State Government introduces new laws banning bikie g...
BN- TATTOO parlour owners say they are sick of being treated like criminals as the State Government introduces new laws banning bikie gang members and their relatives from operating tattoo shops.
More than 400 people turned up on the steps of the Parliament House on Friday to protest against proposed laws aimed at closing tattoo parlours associated with organised crime.
Robert Cameron, who owns a tattoo studio in Tea Tree Gully and Modbury, said the legislation was draconian.
“This concerns innocent people ... we have done nothing wrong but I would end up losing my business,” he said.
In September Attorney-General John Rau introduced legislation to ban bikie gang members and their relatives from operating tattoo parlours in South Australia.
Mr Rau said the move was the first time tattoo parlour ownership had been regulated.
He said it would “stamp out dodgy characters” who use such businesses “as a front for illegal activity and organised crime”.
This followed the July introduction of SA’s new anti-association laws that outlawed 10 bikie groups.
Mr Cameron said about 30 tattoo parlours would face closure if the laws took effect.
“One minister had declared us as illegal not a judge, if that is the case, we would all be in jail by now,” he said.
“We are not a criminal organisation.
“It’s a blatant disrespect towards taxpayers and their money.”
Tattoo parlour owner Moose Elliott said his shop in Modbury was raided twice last week but the police and health department had found nothing on both occasions.
“It’s like we’re up in Russia in the 1960s,” he said.
“They should not be taking trade away from us.”
Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tattoo-parlour-owners-protest-against-new-laws-banning-bikie-ownership/story-fnii5yv6-1227554146428
