Housing Minister Phil Heatley says the Department of Building and Housing will consider changing the building code to make it compulsory for landlords to install smoke alarms in rental properties.
A coroner investigating the death of toddler in a house fire has recommended that the Residential Tenancies Act be amended to require all landlords to put in and maintain the alarms.
But Mr Heatley says his department has told him the matter would be best pursued under the building code instead, which is not in his portfolio.
Mr Heatley says the Department of Building and Housing will look at the matter over the next 12 to 18 months.
The minister says smoke alarms are very important, but education is also crucial to make sure people do not remove the batteries.
