The two were not considered “fit and proper” people to hold a licence, sources said.

Police are vetting licence applications to “clean up the tattoo industry’’ and sever “possible ties to bikie gangs”.

Applicants are being asked to reveal details about their associates, including staff, business partners and landlords.

The Office of Fair Trading said licences would be refused to applicants who were “not a fit and proper person” or if “it is not in the public interest” for them to continue working in the industry.

And it’s highly likely there will be more knock-backs – with a senior member of the Rebels bikie gang, Mick Kosenko, claiming he’ll be forced out of business.

“I’ve lodged my paperwork, but I’m expecting the police to come calling any day now,’’ he said. “I’m going to have to move interstate or overseas if I want to continue working.’’

Australian Tattooists Guild acting president Josh Roelink said it would be “sad’ if operators such as Mr Kosenko were forced out of the industry.

A spokesman for the Office of Fair Trading said that more than 100 of the state’s 340 estimated tattoo parlour operators had failed to apply for new licences before Tuesday’s deadline.

Of the 239 operators who have lodged paperwork, 10 had been granted licences with the rest still being assessed.

Unsuccessful applicants can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a review.

 

Originally published as Tattooists first to be rejected by cops