{"id":"F2011L00227","name":"Competition and Consumer Act 2010 - Consumer Protection Notice No. 17 of 2011 - Permanent ban on sky lanterns","slug":"competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":86439,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2011L00227-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Competition and Consumer Act 2010 - Consumer Protection Notice No. 17 of 2011 - Permanent ban on sky lanterns","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\ntitle: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\n\n \n\nCOMPETITION AND CONSUMER ACT 2010\n\n \n\nConsumer Protection Notice No.  17  of 2011\n\n \n\nPERMANENT BAN ON SKY LANTERNS\n\n \n\nI, DAVID BRADBURY, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, pursuant to subsection 114(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, IMPOSE a permanent ban on the goods specified below.\n\n \n\nParticulars of Goods\n\n‘Sky Lanterns’. A Sky Lantern is essentially a miniature, unmanned hot air balloon that relies on an open flame as a heat source to heat the air inside the lantern with the intention of causing it to lift into the atmosphere.\n\n \n\nNote: Goods subject to this Notice and which fail to comply may be subject to compulsory recall.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nDated this 1st day of February 2011.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nDAVID BRADBURY\n\nParliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Notice changes the legal status of the specified goods by imposing a permanent prohibition on the defined category \"Sky Lanterns\" under the authority of subsection 114(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The instrument creates a new absolute legal constraint on manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of those goods in Australia and adds the prospect of compulsory recall for non‑complying goods (see the Note). The notice itself does not include procedural details for enforcement or recall, so operational scope depends on the wider Act and administrative practice."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly framed prohibition on one defined good (\"Sky Lanterns\").","Decision made under a single statutory power (subsection 114(1)(a) of Schedule 2).","Short text with no procedural or penalty detail — enforcement mechanics deferred to the Act or regulator.","Inclusion of compulsory recall as a possible enforcement tool but without specifying mechanics or cost allocation.","Clear definitional language reduces interpretive ambiguity about what is banned."],"plain_english_summary":"This notice permanently bans “Sky Lanterns” — small unmanned hot‑air balloons that use an open flame — making their supply unlawful in Australia. It targets manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and consumers, and can trigger compulsory recalls of non‑complying stock.\n\nThe ban is a narrow, mechanically precise legal prohibition that shifts compliance costs to suppliers and leaves enforcement mechanics, recall timing and cost allocation to the regulator and existing Act provisions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains precisely targeted at its original purpose: prohibiting a specific unsafe consumer product. The scope has not expanded beyond banning sky lanterns."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","No defined terms section — the single descriptive term 'Sky Lantern' is explained in plain language within the operative text","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the single empowering provision (subsection 114(1)(a) of Schedule 2)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or exemptions","Single operative command: 'IMPOSE a permanent ban'","No procedural requirements or compliance mechanisms detailed within the instrument itself"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:**\n\nThis is a **permanent ban on sky lanterns** (also known as Chinese lanterns or wish lanterns) in Australia. A sky lantern is a small paper balloon with a candle or fuel cell underneath that heats the air inside, causing it to float away into the sky.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Retailers and suppliers** — cannot sell, supply, or offer sky lanterns for sale in Australia\n- **Consumers** — cannot legally purchase these products\n- **Importers** — cannot bring sky lanterns into the country for commercial purposes\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nSky lanterns pose serious **fire and safety risks**. Once released, they drift unpredictably with wind currents and can:\n- Land on dry vegetation, buildings, or vehicles, causing fires\n- Entangle in power lines\n- Create hazards for aircraft\n- Generate litter in remote areas\n\nThe ban is issued under **consumer protection laws** (the Competition and Consumer Act 2010). This means sky lanterns are treated as unsafe consumer goods. If any are found for sale, they can be **compulsorily recalled** — meaning the government can force suppliers to take them back and refund buyers.\n\n**Key point:** This is a **permanent** prohibition, not a temporary restriction. The ban applies nationwide."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant","history":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant/history","analysis":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/competition-and-consumer-act-2010-consumer-protection-notice-no-17-of-2011-permanent-ban-on-sky-lant/documents"}}