The operator of Smart Dollar, inside Warrawong Plaza, has been convicted and fined $12,000 for multiple breaches of supplying consumer goods that don’t comply with safety standards under Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rose Webb said investigators from the watchdog bought a number of toys – ranging in price from $1.99 to $6.99 – at the discount store in October, 2017.

The toys were tested for suitability of ages between 19 months to 36 months. Results showed that four of those types of toys were non-compliant with the mandatory product safety standards.

“In one case, testing of a wind-up pink crocodile caused the winder to come off the toy. This presented as a choking hazard to children under three years of age,” Ms Webb said.

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The commissioner said the Warrawong store was a repeat offender, with a history of supplying unsafe children’s toys.

“This isn’t the first time this Smart Dollar store has been caught for selling unsafe toys as it had been issued with penalty infringement notices for breaching the ACL in December, 2014, February, 2017, and February, 2018,” she said.  The company also has previous convictions for supplying goods that were the subject of a ban.

“Smart Dollar has had plenty of warnings in the past and Fair Trading will continue to ensure all traders comply with product safety standards to protect consumers,” Ms Webb said.

Smart Dollars Pty Ltd, trading as Smart Dollar, was sentenced by Magistrate Peter Feather in Parramatta Court last week.

The company has the right to lodge an appeal.

The Mercury attempted to contact the Warrawong store on Sunday. However, the mobile phone number listed on the Warrawong Plaza website went straight to voicemail and no one responded to the message.