Recalls
Under the Gas Act 1997 and the Electrical Products Act 2000, the Technical Regulator monitors failures of gas appliances and components used in gas installations and infrastructure and electrical products and, if necessary, implements action to remove hazardous products from the market place. Responsible product suppliers (including manufacturers and importers) generally initiate a voluntary recall when a product poses a hazard. For details of products recalled, guidelines as to how to conduct a product recall and other information, go to
http://www.recalls.gov.au 
.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Commonwealth Treasurer (the Australian Governments Consumer Affairs spokesperson) has power to order a compulsory recall of a product if it will or may cause injury to a person and it appears that the supplier has not taken satisfactory action to prevent the goods from causing injury.
The Technical Regulator may also order a compulsory recall. Sections 57A and 61 of the Gas Act 1997 give the Technical Regulator power to prohibit the sale or use (or both) of gas appliances and components of installations or infrastructure if unsafe or likely to become unsafe in use, as well as power to require a compulsory recall. Similarly, Section 8 of the Electrical Products Act 2000 gives the Technical Regulator power to prohibit the sale or use (or both sale and use) of a product which is, or is likely to become unsafe in use, as well as power to require a compulsory recall.
Regulators from other Australian States can also take action to remove hazardous products from the market place and communicate this information to other State regulators.
Recent product recall notices
The OTR advises that the following product recall notices have been published recently in the national press, including the Advertiser and Sunday Mail to alert users to the possibility of fire hazard.
If you have any of the products identified in the recall notices, you are urged to make contact through the hotlines provided.
Electricity