The NSW government is facing criticism after making an amendment last Friday to health regulations, which brought the practice of eyeball tattooing under existing legislation and made it more accessible to the public.
NSW opposition Health Spokesperson Walt Secord condemned the regulation, calling the decision "a major stuff-up."
A spokesperson for NSW Health said eyeball tattooing was being regulated so as to avoid unsanitary conditions and infection control.
Illegal in two US states, the irreversible practice has been deemed dangerous, with eye specialists saying the procedure can cause inflammation and possible vision loss.
NSW Health minister Jillian Skinner said that even though the procedure had been regulated for health concerns, there was still a possibility the practice might be banned.
Some Aussies took to social media to share their bemusement, drawing comparison between the body modification and the controversial NSW lockout laws.
Not a fan of tattoos but it's up to you if you want one. However, eyeball tattooing just seems way too dangerous to allow it.
huge lockout law tradeoff. can't get into pubs after 1:30am BUT we will let you tattoo your eyeball
eyeball tattooing was what they used in dark reign to keep track of who were the convicts. i'm not saying baird is with the imperium, but...
And some people just don't understand it.
Eyeball tattooing? The actual fuk? HAHAH
Suspect people who want to get their eyeballs tattooed won't get too hung up by a law that suggests it's a bad idea. https://t.co/5gc6QIlwRQ
.@abcnews: "optometrists warn of the dangers of eyeball tattooing" look i hate the democratisation of expertise too but doc i knew this