NSW New Rules for Scrap Metal, Security Guards, Tattooists and Witness Protection

Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025

14 Oct 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

professional licensing public safety scrap metal industry security industry tattoo industry witness protection

Introduced by: The Hon Yasmin Catley MP (ALP); The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Scrap-metal dealers will have clearer renewal rules, will no longer be able to transfer a business registration to another person, and the Police Commissioner will be allowed to refuse or cancel a registration without explaining reasons when those reasons involve confidential criminal-intelligence information.
The security-guard licensing system will allow specific exemptions through regulation or urgent Commissioner decisions, will require “fit and proper” assessments to consider honesty and character, will permit major licence holders to supply unlimited staff, and will give new licensees a short period where they may work before receiving their physical licence card.
Temporary visa holders who previously held tattoo licences will remain eligible to apply again, and an outdated transitional clause in the regulation will be removed.
The witness-protection scheme will be able to require either government agencies or private organisations to alter or remove identity records when supporting protected witnesses.
two old amendment Acts that no longer serve any purpose will be repealed to clean up the statute book.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Aileen MacDonald LIB

“I speak on behalf of the Opposition on the Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025. I indicate at the outset that the Opposition supports the bill.”

Official source →

Sue Higginson GRN

“On behalf of The Greens, I indicate that we do not oppose the Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025. The bill makes miscellaneous amendments to several Acts to clarify provisions and remove ambiguity in the law. The bill directly relates to scrap metal, security and tattoo industries and witness protection operations.”

Official source →

Tara Moriarty ALP

“I thank all members who contributed to the debate.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025

Mr EDMOND ATALLA, Member for Mount Druitt — 2025-06-24

The bill makes several miscellaneous amendments to update and improve legislation relating to witness protection and to the regulation of the scrap metal, security and tattoo industries. These amendments include clarifying provisions to remove ambiguity, repealing redundant provisions, and minor changes to address practical issues encountered in applying the legislation.