ACCC CAMPAIGN ON DANGEROUS BLIND & CURTAIN CORDS      

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is leading a nation-wide campaign to check and fix dangerous blind and curtain cords after two infants were strangled by cords earlier this year.

"The ACCC and state and territory consumer regulators are working together to raise awareness of the potential hazard loose curtain and blind cords pose," ACCC deputy chairman, Peter Kell, announced today.

 media_-_product_safety_-_blindandcurtaincord 08/12/2009,11:46 136.29 Kb

BIG W RECALLS FLAMMABLE CHILDREN'S NIGHTWEAR      

Parents and carers have been urged to check children's sleepwear after Big W's recall of 27 styles incorrectly labelled as low fire danger.

"Children can suffer serious burns when nightwear they have been wearing catches fire," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair, Peter Kell, said today.

 media_-_product_safety_-_bigw_recall 30/09/2009,10:27

LODGE YOUR TAX RETURNS FOR FAMILY TAX BENEFIT TO CONTINUE      

The Family Assistance Office is reminding customers receiving Family Tax Benefit about the changes to legislation that will affect people who fail to lodge tax returns.

"The Family Assistance Office is sending out letters to approximately 70,000 customers who have failed to lodge all required tax returns for the years they were in receipt of Family Tax Benefit," Centrelink General Manager, Hank Jongen said.

"The letter, which explains the requirement to lodge a tax return for Family Tax Benefit purposes, also informs customers that from January 2010, any family who has failed to lodge a tax return for any previous financial year, will no longer be able to receive Family Tax Benefit as a fortnightly payment.

Centrelink: Family Tax Benefit

ONLINE CHILD CAR RESTRAINT RECALLS TRIGGER ACCC ALERT      

 accc_-_product_safety_-_child_car_restraints 26/08/2009,12:19 143.96 Kb

THE AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION IS LEADING A NATION-WIDE BLITZ ON UNSAFE HOT WATER BOTTLES      

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is leading a nation-wide blitz on unsafe hot water bottles after more than 10 people in New South Wales were hospitalised with severe burns this winter alone.

"Investigations by government consumer agencies across Australia have found some hot water bottles fail to meet mandatory safety requirements," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman, Graeme Samuel, announced today.
 
"It is alarming to find children and elderly people severely burnt and to find some retailers selling illegal hot water bottles."

 product_safety_-_hot_water_bottle 21/07/2009,11:06 136.96 Kb

TWEDDLE ARRIVES IN GEELONG, VICTORIA, WITH ITS RENOWNED EARLY PARENTING DAY STAY SERVICE      

Local parents in the Geelong region will now receive some much needed support in developing their skills and confidence as new parents with the launch today by The Minister for Community Services, Lisa Neville, of the Tweddle Child and Family Health Service Early Parenting Day Stay program in Waurn Ponds.

This is invaluable resource to assist families with children under the age of 12mths is part of a government funded program to provide a range of parenting services across Victoria. 

 tweddle_-_media_release_-_geelong_launch_-150509 18/05/2009,17:06 70.64 Kb

A CHOICE survey of breakfast cereals has found only two of those aimed at children are really suitable for everyday eating. Many of the products aimed at kids were among the worst examples of excessive sugar and sodium levels.

While Sanitarium's Weet-Bix Kids was recommended because of its 11% of dietary fibre, the same company's Skippy Corn Flakes managed to cram 50% of a small child's daily maximum for sodium into just one 30-gram serve.

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 breakfast_cereals_final 28/04/2009,13:25 927.71 Kb

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia has issued an urgent plea to Australians to become more conscious of the risk of drowning after a horror week where 10 lives were lost across Australia and many more people had to be rescued.

 horror_drowning_week 17/04/2009,10:28 97.86 Kb

NATIONAL ATTACK ON FAULTY COTS        

"The safety of children is paramount and this is reflected in tomorrow's (April 7th 2009) voluntary recall of faulty cots," ACCC Deputy Chairman, Mr Peter Kell, said today. IGC Dorel Australia Pty Ltd has agreed to voluntarily recall Kensington cots which have faulty drop sides.

 media_-_product_safety_-_national_attack_on_dodgy_cots 07/04/2009,12:21 137.64 Kb

FOOD ADDITIVES, HEALTH & BEHAVIOUR: UPDATE PROVIDED BY SNEAKYS        

Where once we blamed sugar for the wayward behaviour of our children, we now know that it is far more likely to be a chemical of some sort. There is mounting evidence against the use of the many additives in our foods, particularly in foods for children, and indeed, an increasing number of countries are banning the use of more and more additives.

 kidse-factsheet35_-_food_and_behaviournd 02/04/2009,09:21 150.41 Kb