How is the Government responding to concerns about the dangers of misuse by children of soda siphon bulbs?
Mr WATKINS: I know that the misuse of soda siphon bulbs is a matter of concern to the honourable member for Menai following reports of property damage and injuries in her local community. In the nine years between 1989 and 1998, the Australian Bomb Data Centre has revealed that there were 1,011 reports of cylinders of carbon dioxide being used as explosive devices. A significant number of these incidents involved so-called soda bombs, which can be made when soda siphon bulbs are misused. Soda siphon bulbs are small metal canisters containing roughly 10 cubic centimetres of either carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide under pressure. Carbon dioxide siphon bulbs, when properly used, produce soda water and nitrous oxide bulbs are used to aerate cream. These products are used extensively in the hospitality industry and are readily available at supermarkets and other retail outlets. They are generally supplied in packs of 10 and cost between $3 and $10. They come with a variety of warnings about
