EXCLUSIVE
Commercial sunbeds will be banned in Western Australia from New Year's Day 2016 after the state cabinet signed off on a deadline to stop solariums and consider compensation for machine operators.
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Kim Hames confirmed to Fairfax Media that WA had signed off on an agreement to join the other states in prohibiting commercial sunbeds, solariums and tanning booths.
Commercial sunbeds were banned in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Queensland by January 1 2015. There are no commercial solariums operating in the Northern Territory.
About 20 tanning businesses in WA operating 57 registered sunbeds are expected to be impacted by the ban.
"The ban on commercial sunbeds will come into effect on January 1 2016, allowing consideration for the right financial assistance model for businesses affected by the ban, and the experience of other states," the spokeswoman said.
"Details of assistance packages for businesses affected by the commercial solaria ban are currently being finalised by the Department of Health and will be announced by the Minister when available."
National anti-sunbed campaigner and melanoma survivor Jay Allen was notified last week of the WA sign-off and praised Dr Hames for supporting his campaign and locking in a date to ban the beds.
"It's been a work in progress. It was really exciting to receive this news," he told Fairfax Media.
Mr Allen, who is based in Sydney and met with Dr Hames to appeal for the WA ban, said governments needed to ensure businesses has opportunities to recouped their financial losses.
"What I'm always saying is government should do the right thing and put compensation in place."
Seven years ago Mr Allen began his life-and-death fight against melanoma after it developed on his ankle and was diagnosed after it began to bleed and scab.
"I swear it was the sunbed," he said.
After Mr Allen was diagnosed, he set up a social media campaign to ban commercial sunbeds.
"It [melanoma] just turned my whole life around," Mr Allen said. "And I thought I've got to do something about it."
Sunbeds send out intense doses of UV radiation over short periods and provide many times the amount of exposure that people would receive from spending an equivalent amount of time in the sun.
According to the Cancer Council of Australia, each year more than 40 melanoma-related deaths and some 2500 new squamous cell carcinomas are attributed to solarium use.
A Curtin University academic applauded the introduction of the ban.
Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Lin Fritschi said that it was baffling why it had taken so long but very welcome.
"The evidence has been very strong that sunbeds are simply not good for people's health. Commercial sunbeds can emit ultra violet light that is like being out in the midday sun," she said.
"They are certainly associated with many skins cancers and the premature ageing of skin."
The professor said that people should stay out of the midday sun and always protect themselves.
"We don't need a lot of sun in a sunshine-rich state like WA. Just be sensible," she said.
