Supporting our hairdressers.
Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) — I must admit that hairdressing was not something I spent too much time considering before being elected to this place, but I have a new appreciation of my hairdresser since being in the public spotlight and new sympathy for people like Julia Gillard, who pointed out that females have to spend so much more time on their public appearance than their male colleagues.
An honourable member interjected.
Ms SANDELL — Except maybe for the member. This bill is about supporting hairdressers, but it is also about supporting public health. The Greens are very pleased to support this bill because ensuring public health is a critical role for government, and hairdressers and make-up artists, who do not penetrate the skin pose a low risk to public health. We believe ongoing government checks and overly rigorous and onerous regulation processes do not appear to be a good use of either public money or the money or time of small business operators. This is particularly the case when there are so many other pressing health issues in our community at the moment, especially when we have to contend with challenges, such as diabetes and heart disease, that should be dealt with through preventive healthcare measures. Government money would clearly be far better spent on supporting the community to address these health risks rather than the low risks posed to the community by hairdressers and make-up salons. The Greens are very happy to support this bill.