The NSW government is pushing ahead with legislation to ban tanning salons by the end of 2014, despite opposition calls for immediate action.
Environment Minister Robyn Parker on Saturday announced tough new laws totally banning commercial solaria tanning units in NSW from December 31, 2014.
"Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and this ban is long overdue," Ms Parker said on Saturday, World Cancer Day.
"Solaria use is associated with a range of skin cancers, including melanoma, which is the most life-threatening form of skin cancer among 15 to 39-year-olds.
"Obviously we can't ban people from going out in the sun, but this ban will prevent them from being exposed to the harmful UV from tanning units."
Ms Parker said the introduction period up until December 31, 2014 would give the solaria industry time to adjust to the changes, remove the tanning units and transition their business to safer alternatives.
However, the opposition said the ban should be put in place immediately, with Greens MP John Kaye saying the delay could cost between 30 and 43 lives.
"The NSW government has finally been forced to accept the scientific evidence that artificial tanning is extremely dangerous," Mr Kaye said in a statement on Saturday.
"It is however a tragedy that (it) has delayed the introduction of the ban until the end of 2014.
"Nothing short of a complete and immediate ban will stop young people putting their lives at risk in solariums."
Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley said the tanning salon business had been booming over the last few months.
"Sun beds have been doing a roaring trade this grey, wet summer," Mr Foley said in a statement on Friday.
"It's time for the O'Farrell government to build on the achievements of the former Labor government and introduce an immediate and total ban."
Front page
RSS Feed