Salons reopen from June, but NSW tattooists left off road map
NSW tattooists have blasted the State Government’s reopening of beauty, hair, nail, waxing and even tanning salons while providing their own industry with zero certainty about the future.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tattooists have expressed frustration at the NSW Government’s announcement that beauty, waxing, nail salons and cosmetic tattooing can resume while they still can’t return to work.
Despite the Australian tattoo industry developing a COVID-19 safety plan to get the profession back working, and already operating under strict hygiene and safety standards, the industry has not been included in the road map for the easing of restrictions in NSW.
A June 1 date has been set for beauticians, nail parlours, and tanning salons to reopen in the state, tattooists remain without a timeline.
Gareth Parry, Australian Tattooist Guild’s NSW representative said many small businesses similar to tattoo studios had been given the green light to reopen across some states.
In Victoria, tattooists can return to work on May 31, in South Australia and the NT, in the first week of June.
“We want to ensure that the tattoo industry is not left behind when it comes to these decisions, some states appear to be including the tattoo industry in a progressive way while others are not,” he said.
Vice President of the Australian Tattooists Guild, Ms Tashi Edwards, said a majority of tattooists were sole traders with no employees and had been unable to access business grants.
Others have struggled to get commercial rent deductions despite National Cabinet guidelines.
Meanwhile, beauticians, nail parlours, and tanning salons will need to develop individual “COVID-safe” plans before being allowed to reopen their doors from June 1.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he had received more requests to reopen beauty salons than anything else since strict lockdown measures were put in place.
Under the new rules for beauty parlours, businesses will be limited to 10 patrons at a time, with only one person per four square metres.
Potential sources of infection like books, magazines and iPads will be banned from waiting rooms, strict cleaning requirements will be in place, and each salon will have a designated staff member to ensure social distancing rules are complied with.
Bianca da Silva, whose Paddington business Lashes by Bianca shut its doors nine weeks ago is excited to see her customers again.
“It has been hard to fill the days and not get really mentally drained from all of this.”
She said despite contributing billions to the country’s economy, the beauty industry had been overlooked because the focus had been on cafes and restaurants.
“It has been frustrating not knowing what is coming and not really being spoken about.
“It is such a massive part of Australia, the beauty industry is huge and to not be thought of in this process has been a little bit frustrating,” she said.
MORE NEWS
Premier tells councils to ‘ease off a bit’ on parking fines
Top cop scraps fine for ‘dropping off hair straightener’
Stay home: Desperate plea from schools as thousands return
Mr Hazzard said allowing beauty salons to reopen achieves the “sensible balance” of protecting people’s health and rebooting the economy.
He said proprietors will need to ensure they can operate safely before being allowed to reopen their doors.
“Your task is to not only deliver the services that people need and want, but also make sure they’re kept safe. So just work through getting a COVID-safe plan,” he said.
Originally published as Salons reopen from June, but NSW tattooists left off road map
Nationwide overhaul needed to fix Australia’s housing crisis
The Business Council of Australia has come out swinging on the problems it says are driving up the cost of new homes across the country.
Artist used own paintings to push case to block gold mine
Indigenous artist Nyree Reynolds, whose application led to a gold mine in Blayney being put on ice, submitted her own paintings as evidence the mine should be blocked.