ACCC takes Kmart to court over nail glue that allegedly burned customers and children’s watches with button batteries
The ACCC has taken Kmart to court, according to ABC, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WA Today on Thursday, October 15. ABC said the regulator alleges Kmart breached Australian consumer law by selling millions of bottles of nail glue that caused burns and by selling products with button batteries. The Herald said the glue led to complaints of burns, hospital visits and skin grafts. Brisbane Times described untested button batteries in children’s watches. Nine reported that Kmart is disappointed by the action. These are allegations; no court has made findings.
The case is a test of how strictly retailers must warn customers about hazards in everyday goods, and of how far the regulator will pursue large chains.
If you bought Kmart nail glue or a children’s watch with a button battery, check the packaging and the ACCC’s Product Safety Australia site for recalls. Seek medical help straight away if a child swallows a button battery.
Large retailers must make sure products are safe and carry proper warnings, and public court action is the right tool.
These are claims, not findings. Kmart says it is disappointed, and the court should decide before anyone is judged.
Wait for the defence. The issue turns on what Kmart knew, what its warnings said and whether the products met the standards. We will report the court’s findings and any penalty once they exist.
DailyDrop Australia edition No. 12 · Morning · FRI., OCT. 16, 2026