Recently, the NSW Government has been banging on about the need for truth in advertising in cosmetic surgery. And if you were to take the lip service to heart you might think that regulation was so stringent that no doctor would dare to indulge in the practice of false and misleading advertising to pump up his/her business prospects
You might think that fundamentally, we do have truth in advertising where cosmetic surgery is concerned, when in fact that is far from the truth of the matter, with examples of advertising and promotions that flout the ‘stringent regulations’ being plentiful and easy to find,when you know what to look for.
Basically the ‘stringent rules’ appear to be a government showpiece designed to cover up for the lack of any real and effective regulation in this area. That's certainly my view.
I’m not ‘buying it’ and neither should you! The ‘stringent rules’ are not there to protect you and me they’re there to protect the government’s backside.
That's a disgrace in and of itself ofcourse, and all the more so, because it tends to give prospective consumers the very false idea that they can relax because they are already safe and protected, and dealing with practitioners in a heavily scrutinised industry, and therefore their existence, actually seems to contribute further to the possibility or likelihood that consumers will come to harm, due to the promotion of an unwarranted sense of security, which is a dangerous thing to have, in what is in fact an essentially unregulated industry.
Consumers cannot afford to take a relaxed and trusting approach in this industry, a list of regulations without constant monitoring and scrutiny of actual activity in the industry, along with unfailing enforcement of penalties for breaches, doesn’t protect consumers from anything, and this cynical, irresponsible government knows it!
I think the government will probably continue to obfuscate in this area unless more pressure can be brought to bear upon it, and that means that media support is required, to give victims of this industry a voice.
Fortunately a few politicians in the NSW Parliament are conscious of the problems and dangers in cosmetic surgery and are willing to help.
I urge anyone, especially any victim of any kind of abuse, or other unsatisfactory treatment in cosmetic surgery, who believes that women and girls should be protected from danger and exploitation in this industry to write to media and the following politicians to give them your support and encouragement in this matter.
Ms Lee Rhiannon
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
The Greens
Phone (02) 9230 3551 Fax (02) 9230 3550 lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) member
Phone (02) 9230 3340 Fax (02) 9230 2132 gordon.moyes@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Assistant President
Phone (02) 9230 2478 Fax (02) 9230 2098 F.Nile@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Michael Veitch
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Deputy Government Whip in the Legislative Council Australian
Labor Party member
Phone (02) 9230 2111 Fax (02) 9233 3661 mailto:mmick.veitch@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Catherine Cusack
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Shadow Minister for Fair Trading
Shadow Minister for Volunteering
Liberal Party member
Phone (02) 9230 2915 Fax (02) 9230 2385 catherine.cusack@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Mrs Judy Hopwood
Suite 5 The Madison, 25-29 Hunter Street, HORNSBY NSW 2077
In her capacity as Member for Hornsby
Liberal Party member
Phone (02) 9476 3411 Fax (02) 9476 2965 hornsby@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Ms Clover Moore
58 Oxford Street, PADDINGTON NSW 2021
Independent memberIn her capacity as Member for Sydney:
Phone (02) 9360 3053 Fax (02) 9331 6963 sydney@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Ms Virginia Judge
Minister for Fair Trading
Minister for Citizenship
and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts
In her capacity as Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the
Premier on the Arts:
Australian Labor Party member
Phone (02) 9228 5900 Fax (02) 9228 5899 office@judge.minister.nsw.gov.au
In her capacity as Member for Strathfield:
Phone (02) 9747 1711 Fax (02) 9747 6054 strathfield@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Mrs Jillian Skinner
Suite 3, 40 Yeo Street, NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Health
Liberal Party member
In her capacity as Member for North Shore:
Phone (02) 9909 2594 Fax (02) 9909 2654 northshore@parliament.nsw.gov.au
