No age limits on piercing

THERE are some piercings Donna Mortimer won’t touch, and they include slicing the tongue of an 11-year-old.

The Redbank Plains body piercer has been in the industry for a decade.

She says regulations are practically non-existent and no legal age applies to clients.

An Ipswich mother was shocked last month when an 11-year-old boy turned up to school with his tongue pierced.

She called for the piercer to be jailed.

Ms Mortimer said body piercing kits could be bought off the internet.

“That child could have got something off eBay,” she said.

“The kits come with ‘how to do’ instructions.

“I’m finding that the younger ones are doing it themselves.

“These kits are not to Australian standards.”

Ms Mortimer says the risks include infection, piercing in the wrong place and hitting nerves.

Her youngest client was aged 13.

Queensland Health, in a fact sheet, says there are no laws requiring parental consent for general piercings.

They do say it’s a good idea for kids to talk about body piercing with their parents before it’s done.

It is illegal to pierce the nipples or genitals of minors, even with parental consent.

Queensland Health acting senior director Dr Frank Beard said the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 included regulation of the body piercing industry.

“The Act requires businesses providing skin penetration procedures to be licensed and people providing these services must hold an infection control qualification,” he said.

“There is no limitation under the Act on the age at which a child can be pierced without parental consent.”