Australia: Anti-tan campaign getting results with teens

[Editor-in-Chief]

Anti-tan campaign getting results with teens

By Clare Masters
December 21, 2007 01:00am
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THE high profile death of skin cancer victim Clare Oliver coupled with a multi-million dollar graphic campaign has already had an impact on teenagers who are now recognising the dangers of tanning.

Victoria yesterday became the first state in Australia to regulate the solarium industry but a similar crackdown may not happen in NSW until at least May.

The Victorian regulations was the dying wish of Ms Oliver, who lost her battle with skin cancer this year after regular sunbed use.

Speaking from her hospital bed just before her death, Ms Oliver warned young women that excessive sunbaking can have deadly consequences.

Solarium operators in Victoria will now have to be licensed and display health warnings, while 17 and 18-year-olds must have parental consent before using a sunbed.

The Cancer Council's skin cancer expert Kay Coppa called on the Government to tighten controls in NSW.

A spokesman for Assistant Health Minister Verity Firth said yesterday that the Government was involved in a national process to implement stricter controls.

The Victorian crackdown comes as research shows the NSW Government's $2.16 million Dark Side of Tanning campaign is starting to have an effect.

A Cancer Institute of NSW survey of 13 to 44-year-olds found more than 70 per cent now recognised the dangers of tanning and melanoma of the skin.

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