SYDNEY • A beauty salon owner in Australia has died after a botched breast implant operation, prompting the authorities to consider tightening industry regulations, the media reported yesterday.

"Clearly there is a major problem with beauty therapy facilities that involve themselves in doing procedures that perhaps should not be done by them," Mr Brad Hazzard, the Health Minister of New South Wales, told ABC News.

He said the regulatory framework around cosmetic clinics would be reviewed.

Ms Jean Huang, 35, went into cardiac arrest following surgery at The Medi Beauty clinic in Sydney last Wednesday. She died in hospital two days later, according to Australian media.

Shao Jie, who allegedly performed the operation, is a Chinese tourist with no Australian medical qualifications, The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported. But her solicitor, Ms Mary Underwood, said the 33-year-old had done a five-year degree at Guangdong Medical University in China and specialised in dermatology, the SMH said on Thursday.

Shao has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and administering a poison. A court refused her bail last Friday over concerns that she would "flee to China, interfere with witnesses or endanger others in the community", according to the SMH.

She allegedly administered a local anaesthetic and breast fillers to Ms Huang. The dosage of anaesthetic was wrong, causing Ms Huang to suffer cardiac arrest, according to a police statement of facts.

SMH said the duo knew each other through a mutual friend, yet it remains unclear why Shao was performing the surgery.

Ms Huang studied at the University of Melbourne before opening the clinic in Sydney.

"I would like to see the state government toughen up the definition - you cannot call yourself a surgeon or perform these procedures unless you are properly trained and have accreditation," Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord was quoted by ABC News as saying.