Illegal solariums operating in Seddon, Plenty Valley, Caulfield, Dandenong

More than 50 illegal solarium operations have been discovered in garages, bedrooms and sheds across Melbourne’s suburbs, as a legal loophole is exploited.

Deadly black market solariums are covertly thriving in the back of suburban businesses and homes across Melbourne as authorities turn a blind eye to the cancer-causing devices.

A three-month Sunday Herald Sun investigation can reveal strict laws outlawing commercial tanning beds are failing, with dozens of illegal solarium operators booming across the city.

More than 50 illegal solarium operations were also uncovered in garages, bedrooms and even sheds in suburbs including Dandenong, Caulfield, Seddon and Plenty Valley.

Posing undercover, this masthead gained access to a solarium last month, which was brazenly operating out the back of a supplements store in a busy Clayton shopping strip.

Commercial tanning beds were outlawed eight years ago, but it is not illegal to own one for personal use.

The blatant exploitation of this loophole has sparked calls for the sunbeds to be banned altogether.

Within five minutes of searching, an appointment to use a sunbed was made on social media through an Instagram account promoting “Solis (solariums) in the southeast”.

The operator offered up a half-hour sunbed session for $30 in cash.

Upon arrival, the Sunday Herald Sun discovered the solarium was being discreetly run out of fitness product business Supps Australia on Clayton Rd, which sells protein powders and gym accessories.

A solarium business is allegedly being run out of a commercial shop in Clayton. Picture: David Caird

The worker took reporters to a back room hidden behind shelves of stock and turned on the sunbed.

“You only have 30 minutes in here,” the worker said.

Inside the room, there were no protection goggles and a lack of sanitary products.

A range of additional tanning supplements such as tanning oil with no SPF protection and moisturisers were available to customers.

There was also an advertisement on the door for banned products, with those interested asked to contact a number on the encrypted messaging app Signal.

When the session concluded, additional customers were seen walking into the shop and exiting without any supplements after 30 minutes – the same allocated time for solarium appointments.

One man was seen quickly walking to his car, with what appeared to be tanning oil on his face.

The Sunday Herald Sun has seen dozens of other options to get a deadly tan on a Facebook group with almost 1000 members, which is a haven for illegal operators to advertise.

Several businesses are also masquerading the solariums as LED light therapy treatments to avoid detection from authorities.

Melbourne woman Clare Oliver, died aged 26 in 2007 after she was diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma following years of solarium use.

Ms Oliver used a solarium more than 20 times when she was aged in her early 20s.

She spent the final weeks leading a campaign to ban tanning machines.

Morgan Mansell, who grew up in Dingley, was diagnosed with melanoma after discovering a spot on her ear in 2017.

She died just 16 months later but spent the remainder of her life blogging to raise awareness of skin cancer.

Ashwood couple Peter and Julie Mansell lost their daughter Morgan in 2018 to melanoma. Picture: Jason Edwards

Her parents Peter and Julie Mansell, from Ashwood, started Check4Spots day, which is held on January 30 to commemorate their daughter’s birthday.

“She had a mole on her ear and by the time it was diagnosed as melanoma it had spread to her lymph nodes,” Mr Mansell said.

While his daughter did not use solariums, he said it was “crazy” that people desperate for a tan were putting themselves at risk.

“It’s extremely concerning that people want to expose themselves to these dangers, which are so unnecessary.

“We miss our beautiful daughter every day and that’s why we want to raise awareness about this awful disease and continue advocating for Morgan’s legacy.”

In March 2014, Jim Cormack, from Melbourne’s southeast, was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma.

He first noticed a pimple on his left cheek in mid-2013, which he cut shaving.

It ulcerated so he had it checked by his GP who excised the area and it came back from pathology as aggressive melanoma.

Mr Cormack said his diagnosis was “frightening” for his family, with the prospect of his life ending weighing heavily on them.

“I was one of the lucky ones who survived but there are others who have not been as fortunate” he said.

Mr Cormack said the private sales of sunbeds should be immediately banned.

“This is where the law has failed. There should be harsher penalties for dodgy operators found to be using sunbeds for commercial use,” he said.

Cancer Council Victoria head of prevention Adjunct Associate Professor Craig Sinclair said the organisation strongly supported the ban on commercial sunbeds, recognising the significant health risks they posed to individuals.

“Despite commercial solariums being banned for over eight years, now that we know illegal solariums are finding ways to continue to operate demonstrates this health risk is still an issue that still needs resources to ensure there is adequate monitoring and enforcement,” he said.

Assoc Prof Sinclair said it was concerning to see businesses continuing to put profits above health.

“We know these operators can be difficult to locate and often try to stay under the radar,” he said.

“We’ve seen some operators working out of industrial sites, home garages and using channels like WhatsApp or messenger to promote to customers while avoiding scrutiny.

“This is all the more reason why resources are needed to ensure there is adequate monitoring and prosecution of illegal operations.”

Assoc Prof Sinclair said the state government needed to rigorously monitor and prosecute illegal solarium operators.

“This includes having the capacity to monitor their promotions and follow up tip-offs from the general public.”

Melanoma Institute Australia chief executive Matthew Browne said he was aware of solarium operators advertising their services on social media.

An illegal solarium, that is one of scores operating across Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

“If you are a customer and you are using the solarium, we say DO NOT USE them, you’re increasing your risk of getting a very serious disease in melanoma,” Mr Browne said.

“We would support any action the government may take to stop these illegal operators and if that required an extension of the law to include personal use, we would support that,” he said.

Mr Browne said young people glamorised tanning.

“If the younger generation believes that tanning is healthy and what looks to be good, then we say do everything we can to stop that message.”

A Department of Health spokesman said Victoria banned the use of commercial solariums in 2015 “because of the harm they can cause.”

“We have taken a strong stance on solariums since they were banned, seizing, and destroying many beds across the state,” he said.

“We won’t hesitate to act where needed to protect the public health of Victorians.

“While our enforcement activities were heavily impacted by the pandemic, as Victoria has opened up, we’ve also stepped up our investigations.”

The Victorian Department of Health has seized 37 beds since 2016.

Of those, 11 people were fined, four people and one company were convicted, three people were placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond, another person was convicted and placed on a court order and another was placed on a diversion order.

Fines issued as part of these prosecutions have totalled $146,500, while a further $122,856 has been awarded in costs to the department.

Supps Australia declined to comment but claimed the solarium was only for personal use.

*The Sunday Herald Sun did not use a solarium during its investigation.

Originally published as Illegal solariums operating in Seddon, Plenty Valley, Caulfield, Dandenong