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Inked-up protest slams SA anti-bikie laws

Protesters in Adelaide say laws banning bikies and associates from operating tattoo studios will cost jobs.

A vocal, inked-up group of protesters have taken to the steps of parliament house in Adelaide, slamming proposed laws to ban bikies from owning tattoo parlours.

More than 100 protesters, including tattoo artists, held signs reading "art is not a crime" as they shouted "wake up Australia" and "save our tattoos" on Friday.

It comes in response to legislation introduced to parliament in September that seeks to ban members of motorcycle clubs and their close associates from operating tattoo parlours.

"Goodness gracious, this is the worst legislation I've seen," said Mark Aldridge, a former independent election candidate and speaker at the protest.

"We are not criminals here today. The tattooists of this state have every right to tattoo."

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Mr Aldridge said the laws would cost jobs in the tattooing industry.

"There's not a lot of money in art these days but in this particular art form people can make a living - there's no valid reason to take this away."

But Attorney-General John Rau said the legislation would only affect people who had a direct link to organised crime, or were closely associated with someone who did.

"Those people in this particular industry who have no connection with organised crime are going to be left completely untouched by it," he said on Friday.

Mr Rau said the state police commissioner also had the power to lift a ban on gang-associated people owning a tattoo parlour if they could demonstrate good reason.

"It's interesting that all of the people complaining about it so far appear to either be current or past members of these declared criminal groups," he said.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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