Mark Twain once famously said of politics that; "no-one's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session".

Well, there's a law change currently before Parliament that is about to highlight this in a most unusual way. You see, our MPs are about to legislate on the use of sunbeds. Yes, Parliament is going to regulate the way you get your tan. It may sound absolutely ridiculous, but I swear I am not making this up.

Parliament is currently considering amendments to health laws, and among the changes being put forward is one that would see it made an offence for beauty salons to provide UV tanning services to people aged under 18. Fines of up to $10,000 could be imposed on those that break this rule.

Skin cancer risk is the driving force behind the change with medical advice making it pretty clear that sunbeds are a "bad thing".

Opposition parties want to take the ban even further and have the commercial use of sunbeds done away with completely.

That in itself opens up a whole new can of worms. For, if sunbeds are a health hazard and cause problems for the health system, then why shouldn't then there be a total ban on cigarettes or alcohol? Arguably both tobacco and alcohol have a far more deleterious effect on public health than sunbeds ever will.

Should we also be legislating against sugars, fats, and salts as well? Where does all this end? What is the logical conclusion when health benefits are held up as a Holy Grail?

And where in all of this does personal responsibility and freedom of choice rest? Should people have the right to get a tan if they want to? And if you take away commercial sunbeds, what's stopping them from going out and getting a tan in the sun, or for that matter just buying a sunbed of their own? Will Parliament legislate for this as well? One could in fact ask; what's the point, and isn't this all a bit Nanny State?

But then, since when has anything involving politics ever had to make sense.