Deadly products could be banned

THE nation’s top consumer cop believes a law making it illegal to sell killer products could be a reality this year, and the Federal Government has declared it will soon be “ready to act”.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said that for the first time since he took the job in 2011, there was a strong prospect of overcoming business opposition and entrenching a general safety provision.

“It would be great to have this done and dusted in 2019, and I think it can be,” Mr Sims said.

Dangerous goods kill 780 people a year and injure tens of thousands, according to the first-ever ACCC estimates.

The cost to the economy is put at $5 billion annually.

The UK has had generalproduct safety regulations since 2005, and Canada passed laws in 2010, leading consumer advocates to say Australia has fallen behind comparable nations.

Mr Sims said that at a minimum, there should at least be a Bill before Federal Parliament by Christmas.

He said sentiment had shifted in favour of such a law change after high-profile recalls, including those of Takata airbags and Samsung washing machines, as well as the banking royal commission.

Plus, the recent Australian Consumer Law review had got people thinking about how to make the product-safety system work better.

“It’s all coming together to drive the reform through,” he said.

“Had we tried to do it in earlier times, I think the companies would have run arguments that would have stopped this.”

The main complaint has been that it would put an excessive burden on smaller retailers.

Mr Sims said that was why the change the ACCC was seeking would only require

IN EARLIER TIMES, THINK THE COMPANIES WOULD HAVE RUN ARGUMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THIS

ACCC CHAIRMAN ROD SIMS

“reasonable steps” to ensure goods aren’t dangerous.

While Woolworths and Coles would have to check everything they sold, a corner store or small retailer may not have to. It could potentially rely on the fact that larger competitors had scrutinised the same products.

Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert, who has responsibility for consumer affairs within the Federal Government, said a regulatory impact statement was being prepared by Treasury, which state and territory consumer affairs ministers would consider.

“That’s the last piece of the puzzle that we are waiting on,” Mr Robert said.