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I 25 November 2025
Round of "apaws" for festive-dressed pets
Christmas in Cooroy is a chance to rethink festive spending, with every purchase helping to support community businesses and keeping the local holiday spirit strong.
Page 19
Christmas guide to gifts, food, events and celebrations Page 24-29
Ethical shopping: time to rethink cheap online Christmas buys BY SARAH JANE SCOTT
CHRISTMAS shoppers are being urged to rethink the lure of cheap online Christmas buys this year, as record-breaking e-commerce spending collides with growing concerns about the safety, quality and long-term impact of imported bargain buys. Australia Post’s latest Quarterly eCommerce Report revealed that Australians spent a staggering $20.7 billion online between July and September, the highest firstquarter spend ever recorded. More than 8.1 million households made online purchases, and half of all
shoppers also taking part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, meaning the trend is not slowing. But alongside the convenience, industry leaders and safety authorities are sounding the alarm about the hidden risks of foreign e-commerce giants such as Temu, Shein and Amazon. Australia Post CEO Paul Graham warned that these platforms could control up to 50 per cent of the Australian online shopping market by 2030, a shift he believes could damage local businesses and jeopardise Australia Post’s long-term financial viability. “The rise of international e-commerce giants threatens
the financial sustainability of Australian businesses,” he said, urging shoppers to consider where their money goes and the broader consequences of their purchases. Consumer safety concerns are also mounting. Standards Australia Chief Rod Balding said many cheap imported electronics, toys and clothing items simply do not meet Australia’s strict safety requirements. “They may appear to be an absolute bargain,” he said, “but we’re just encouraging people to do a little bit more due diligence and research before they hit that ‘buy now’ button.” Products built for foreign power
systems, poorly made baby toys, untested fabrics and button-batterypowered items are among the most concerning. Several high-profile recalls in recent years, including a glow-in-the-dark jumper that caught fire near a heat source and toys that failed basic safety tests, have reinforced fears about unregulated imports. “Our testing found 17 of 24 children’s toys purchased from Shein, AliExpress, eBay and Amazon had serious safety failures when tested against Australia’s mandatory button battery standards,” CHOICE Director of Campaigns, Rosie Thomas,
Green With Envy
Sustainability is the New Selling Superpower This spring, sustainability is more than just a lifestyle trend in the Noosa Hinterland – it is a market mover. From solar panels to eco-smart design, green homes are attracting stronger demand and selling for up to 11% more than their traditional counterparts.
said. “Button batteries can cause catastrophic injuries within hours if swallowed, so it is highly concerning to see products like this continue to be sold. “The safety failures across the 17 products included batteries that were able to be accessed without the use of a tool, absence of safety alerts or warning statements, and screws which did not remain with the battery compartment cover when the compartment was opened,” she added. All of this is prompting a renewed push to shop local, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. Continued page 2
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Cooroy Rag, 25 November 2025 - Page 1