We want a new law for safe products. This will be a simple, clear law that says if you’re a business who sells a product in Australia, it must be safe. If the law is breached, it should attract a hefty fine.

We also want the voluntary code for button battery safety to be made mandatory, with fines for businesses who don't comply. Many children have been directly injured by button batteries, and two children in Australia have died. The risks of button batteries are extremely serious, and we know exactly how to make these products safe – keep the batteries secured. The voluntary code sets out how to do this, and it should be mandatory.

It will encourage businesses to think about the safety of their products earlier – with the threat of being hit with big fines if they don’t.

Under the current law, businesses tend to react to product safety problems. We want them to actively try to prevent them. We see individuals fight for remedies after a product injures them, or a business may launch a voluntary recall months or years after becoming aware of a safety risk. This isn’t good enough – we want safer markets.

This new law will give businesses a better incentive to make sure their products are safe before they start selling them.

If you want to know whether a product has been recalled, visit the ACCC's product safety website. You can sign up for alerts and updates from the ACCC here as well.