NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today said progress was being made on improving product safety laws across Australia for the benefit of consumers and industry.

Ms Burney said that in April last year, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the development by States and Territories of a national approach to product safety regulation.

“The key benefit of keeping the States and Territories actively involved in product safety is their ability to quickly detect and deal with potentially dangerous products at the local level,” Ms Burney said.

“I don’t believe Choice has considered the full implications of its suggestion of a national compliance body. Fair Trading has staff at many locations around the state regularly conducting product safety checks such as visiting local shops and checking show bags at local country shows. The same is true for most other States and Territories.

“Last financial year alone, NSW inspectors visited more than 2,000 stores and markets in over 150 towns. Can you imagine the ACCC running a similar operation?

“It would simply not be possible for a single national regulator to do this Australia-wide.”

Ms Burney said the Commonwealth, States and Territories were working towards a regime free of anomalies such as products banned in one State being available for sale in another, or standards that only apply in one state when they should be Australia-wide.

“New South Wales’ preferred model is one which still allows the State-based regulators to act quickly and independently to introduce an interim ban when consumer safety is compromised,” Ms Burney said.

“This would then be referred to a national body of independent experts who would advise the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs whether a national ban or mandatory standard was required.

“We are on track to report back to COAG in April 2008 on a harmonised model for product safety in Australia.

“We are thus seeking exactly what Choice recommends – a coordinated approach on a national basis – but with responsibilities at a state level.”

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