CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about child product safety.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: It is appropriate that the community is warned quickly about faulty products and, most importantly, when they may endanger babies and small children. Will the minister advise the chamber what is being done to protect consumers from products that are defective and potentially dangerous to small children and babies?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his question and ongoing interest in these important matters. The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs is working with state and federal fair trading agencies to address a problem with wooden cots, which have been the subject of increased reports in recent times. A problem identified relates to the vertical bars or slats within the drop side of the wooden cot, which tended to break or become dislodged with regular use. This can pose a risk to children, potentially enabling the child to roll out or fall from the cot.

Product safety officers have detected that this failure within the Mother's Choice Kensington cot is due to the poor construction of the cot. IGC Dorel has issued a nation-wide recall and the notice in today's Advertiser advises customers to contact the supplier to arrange replacement of any faulty drop sides. Consumers should expect that cots are manufactured to be hard wearing and should be able to withstand regular use; after all, they house our most important cargo, our babies. I am urging parents, grandparents or carers to report to the office these or any other faults they come across in babies' products.

The product safety branch is working closely with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is keen to hear more about any problems that will help it gauge the extent of safety issues. Consumer reports will help initiate appropriate action to help protect the safety of babies and toddlers. OCBA's product safety branch is easy to contact, and last month I reported on several other baby products that had been recalled nationally. Indeed, I find it concerning that products designed specifically for babies and small children are still found to be defective. It is good news that the system is working. We find these defects quickly and have the product in question recalled promptly. The simple message to parents is to remain vigilant about products they buy for their children and report anything they see as dangerous to the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs.