Amazon Australia sold fire-risk light months after warning, tests find

Why This Matters

• Products that fail basic electrical safety tests can remain available to Australian consumers for months after warnings.
• The tested light posed risks of fire and, according to testers, electrocution through accessible live wires.
• The case highlights questions about whether online marketplaces carry the same safety obligations as traditional retailers.

Background

Online marketplaces have become a major channel for imported consumer goods, but Australia's product safety framework was built around physical retailers and importers. Consumer advocates have long argued that marketplace listings sit in a legal grey area, with platforms often describing themselves as intermediaries between overseas sellers and shoppers. The LCA tests suggest high failure rates among lights bought through such platforms.

Key Perspectives

Lighting Council Australia: Malcolm Richards says the retailer was warned repeatedly in June, yet the light stayed on sale, and non-compliant items have reappeared under different listings or sellers. Amazon Australia: The company told LCA in October it had taken steps to remove the products identified as non-compliant. Consumer advocates (CHOICE): Shoppers cannot assume the law prevents unsafe products being sold on online marketplaces, because in practice it does not.

What to Watch

• Whether Amazon removes the remaining flagged products and how quickly.
• Whether the same lights return under different listings or sellers.
• Whether the episode prompts a regulatory or parliamentary response on marketplace safety.