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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-05 Daily Xml
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CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (14:25): Will the Minister for Consumer Affairs advise the outcomes of her recent attendance at the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Volunteers, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister Assisting in Early Childhood Development) (14:25): Ministers at the most recent Council on Consumer Affairs meeting agreed to a range of issues, including the development of a national consumer policy framework, national product safety and wine-labelling reforms. Ministers welcomed the opportunity to work collaboratively with the federal government to develop a groundbreaking approach to consumer policy which will enhance market confidence and fairness. These reforms will address inconsistencies in legislation across the nation while at the same time encompassing legislative and regulative best practice.

The aim is better outcomes for consumers and lower costs for businesses. One of the other key outcomes from the meeting was the agreement to reform the way in which we deal with product safety. Again, the aim is consistency and rapid response. Over the past couple of years, we have seen increasing numbers of toxic and faulty goods—particularly from China—coming into Australia. Different states at different times have implemented bans on different products, whether that be children's toys, cooking items or toothpaste, for example. Every year we have the round of show goodies banned in one state only to pop up a few weeks later in another—costly testing and costly administration.

A study by Access Economics (commissioned by the ministerial council) has revealed more than 173,000 product-related accidents in Australia every year. The findings also reveal that more than 13,000 of these are caused by faulty products, with resulting injuries costing the nation an estimated $250 million. Over 40 per cent result in the need for medical treatment. Many of those injured are employed, and the report estimated that, as a result, over half a million work days are lost. The ministerial council agreed to a proposal that will enhance the commonwealth's role in product safety while ensuring that local issues are dealt with swiftly. Interim bans implemented in one state will be automatically advised around the nation, and the ACCC will immediately begin assessment for permanent bans.

The ACCC will undertake a greater role that will be significantly enhanced, and it will share enforcement responsibilities with state and territory consumer affairs agencies. Finally, I am pleased to inform the house that all other states and territories have agreed to follow South Australia's lead in adopting a unified wine labelling system. While Australia signed up to the worldwide trade group agreement last year, South Australia was the first and only of the Australian states and territories to implement it. It is estimated that this will save the South Australian wine industry in excess of $12 million a year, with potentially a $25 million saving for the industry across Australia. The decisions made at the ministerial council provide a new way forward in consumer and business protection and state and commonwealth cooperation in this area.

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