Takata compulsory recall one step closer, but still not close enough

Federal Member for Bass, Ross Hart MP welcomes the decision by the Minister responsible for Product Safety to issue a Proposed Recall Notice, the first step towards a compulsory recall of Takata airbags.

However Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs Tim Hammond MP is reiterating Labor’s call for the Minister to use his emergency recall powers to immediately issue a compulsory recall for Takata ‘Alpha’ airbags.

We are pleased the Government has finally decided to heed Labor’s call to protect the tens of thousands of Australian motorists still driving vehicles with potentially deadly Takata airbag units.

While the Proposed Recall Notice suggests the compulsory recall of all makes and models of vehicle fitted with the potentially lethal Takata airbag units, the final details are far from certain.

It is essential throughout this process the Minister ensures the safety of Australian motorists, and their families, remains the priority, and consumers of their rights.

Takata airbags have detonators that degrade over time, causing them to misfire, and potentially spraying shrapnel throughout a car’s cabin.

They can turn a minor accident into a fatal incident.

Reports show misfiring Takata airbags are believed to have killed 20 people worldwide including at least one Australian.

Millions of ticking time bombs remain on the road world wide.

There remains a significant threat to the safety of nearly 50,000 Australian motorists and their families, who are driving around with ‘Alpha’ Takata airbags in their cars.

Takata’s ‘Alpha’ model airbags were found to have a failure rate of one in two, compared with a failure rate of other types of Takata airbags of 0.27 per cent.

Labor has previously called for an emergency compulsory recall to be issued for ‘Alpha’ airbags, which the Minister has the power to do immediately under Section 132J of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

A compulsory recall empowers the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to take direct control over the recall process.
ROSS HART MP MEMBER FOR BASS