Melbourne women search Gumtree for illegal backyard solariums

WOMEN searching for a perfect tan are using social media to try to track down illegal backyard solariums after the practise was outlawed commercially.

Commercial solariums were banned in 2015 but it hasn’t stopped some people searching for illegal backyard operators.

WOMEN thirsty for a golden brown tan are turning to Gumtree and social media to find backyard solarium operators.

Commercial solariums were outlawed in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland as part of the fight against melanoma, with hefty fines applying to anyone breaking the rules.

The Berwick Leader in Melbourne found at least 10 advertisements on the website from women seeking solarium use who said they were willing to pay good money and travel for use of the machines.

Gumtree user Serena wrote: “I’m looking for a solarium to use casually 1-3 times a week.

Willing to pay good $$$. I live in South East Melbourne but I’m willing to travel to get my tan back!”

Another woman wrote: “Hello, I’m wanting to use a solarium 2-3 times a week. Please contact me asap. Willing to travel also.”

The posts were among a slew of advertisements seeking access to illegal sunbeds in various parts of Melbourne.

Advertisements from people seeking sunbeds on Gumtree.

Cancer Council Victoria warned against paying to use a sun-bed in someone’s home, saying an amateur operator was even more dangerous than a previously licenced operator.

However, director of prevention Craig Sinclair said the fact that people were using Gumtree to find backyard sun-bed operators suggested they were hard to find.

“There are very few operators in Victoria who are choosing to break the law and offer solarium services. The fact that people are advertising seeking access to sunbeds confirms this,” he said.

“Prior to solarium bans now in place across Australia, it was estimated that 281 cases of melanoma and 43 deaths were caused by solariums in Australia every year.

“If you are paying for the service, the owner or operator of the backyard solarium is breaking the law so you use it at your peril.

“Guidelines that previously existed around the operation of commercial sunbeds are unlikely to be applied by backyard operators.

“That means a user won’t know how much ultraviolet radiation a solarium could be emitting, and no-one will be checking your skin type to set limits on exposure levels.”

The Victorian Government gave solarium operators two years to phase out the units with buyback packages of $2000 available before June 30 2014, reducing to $1000 until December 31 of that year.

Health Department spokesman Bram Alexander said the maximum penalty for conducting a commercial tanning practice by a person was approximately $9,100, while the maximum penalty for an offence by a body corporate is $45,501.

He said the department had laid charges against ‘a number’ of people for providing commercial tanning services and those cases were progressing through the courts but none of the people. being prosecuted were from Casey.

Until last year solarium use was in the spotlight since the 2007 death of aspiring Melbourne journalist Clare Oliver, who developed aggressive melanoma which she attributed to sun-bed use.

Comment was sought from Cancer Council Victoria.

If people have any information about alleged illegal solariums they can contact the Department of Health by emailing [e-mail] or phoning 1300 767 469.

Originally published as Melbourne women search Gumtree for illegal backyard solariums