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WA to ban tanning beds

WA to ban commercial solariums

Premier Colin Barnett has ended an embarrassing delay in moves to ban tanning beds, announcing today that State Cabinet will shut down commercial solarium operators.

While the details and timing are yet to be finalised, Mr Barnett told ABC radio that the evidence of sun bed exposure contributing to skin cancer was “overwhelming.”

The West Australian understands the Government could be looking at a start date of December 31 next year.

The Government was caught out earlier this month, when its plan to ban tanning beds was blocked by several Liberal backbenchers who questioned the risks posed by the machines. It was forced to adjourn a meeting earlier this week to hear from health experts.

Liberals stall sun bed ban

Cancer Council WA director of education and research Terry Slevin said he welcomed the Premier’s announcement that WA would join what would become a national ban on commercial sun beds.

“We agree with the Premier’s assessment that the evidence linking their use with skin cancer risk is overwhelming,” he said.

“WA already experiences too much skin cancer and these machines were unnecessarily adding to that burden.

“The beneficiaries of this decision will be today’s children who will not risk being exposed to these dangerous machines in young adulthood.”

Mr Slevin said the council would seek more details, particularly when the ban will come into force.