Announcements

Showing 26 - 50 of 1948 results

Lead work – take action now

On 1 October 2019, amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations) will come into effect. The amendments lower the blood lead removal level thresholds for workers and changes the definition of ‘lead-risk job’. Lead stays in the blood for several months. It is important to take action now to ensure that when the new laws come into effect the blood lead levels of...
WorkSafe
Alert
20 Mar 2019

Rosie Batty supports WA tenancy law changes

Rosie Batty has given her support to planned changes to WA tenancy laws to assist renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV). The former Australian of the Year (2015), who has been a domestic violence campaigner since her son Luke was tragically murdered by his father, gave the endorsement during a visit to Kalgoorlie, where she met with Consumer Protection’s Senior Regional Officer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Mar 2019

Submissions to Inquiry into Wage Theft closing next week

Submissions to the Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia are closing next week, on Wednesday 27 March 2019. The Inquiry is being undertaken by Mr Tony Beech, former Chief Commissioner of the WA Industrial Relations Commission. Wage theft is the systematic and deliberate underpayment of wages or entitlements to a worker. The Inquiry terms of reference include: Whether there is evidence of...
Labour Relations
Department News
19 Mar 2019

Tribute to Karen Merrin, a true community champion

Consumer Protection today paid tribute to Karen Merrin, a tireless champion of the community services sector, who has lost her battle with cancer. Karen, a Consumer Protection Award winner in 2017, was the inaugural manager of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre (NSCLC) in Mirrabooka when it first opened in 1996. The Centre delivers advice, advocacy and representation to almost 4,000...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Mar 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 148.3 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 19 March 2019, most 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP price to 154.9 cpl (hiking by 28 cpl). Most Caltex, Caltex Woolworths, BP and Coles Express sites are increasing their...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Mar 2019

New look and a busy year for WA’s consumer protection agency

Consumer Protection has launched their new logo on World Consumer Rights Day with a busy year ahead planned for their work protecting consumers in WA. The new logo incorporates the umbrella from the previous logo which represents protection but is more colourful with the aim of making it stand out. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said the vibrant colours are designed to make...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Mar 2019

Rigger fined $4000 over lack of safety controls

A rigger has been fined $4000 (and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs) over an incident in which two construction workers were crushed by a tilt-up panel in the city in 2015. Benjamin Paul Botica pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care to avoid adversely affecting the safety or health of others, and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court today. In November 2015, four workers from a Perth...
WorkSafe
Media release
15 Mar 2019

Check your pay rate isn't out of date

If you are an employer in the State industrial relations system, it is a good idea to review employee pay rates regularly to ensure that they are in line with the current rates in the relevant award , or the minimum pay rates for award free employees if no award applies. The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission reviews the minimum weekly rates of pay under state awards and the state...
Labour Relations
Department News
14 Mar 2019

Using gas appliances safely

Now summer is officially over, our attention may soon turn to gas heaters and other gas appliances in the home. A recent safety alert affecting four popular gas heaters is a timely reminder that any gas equipment should be used and maintained correctly to avoid potentially dangerous consequences. Along with our colleagues at Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ), Consumer Protection is...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Mar 2019

Safety alert affects four open-flued gas heaters

A national safety alert has been issued for four open-flued gas heaters that, under certain circumstances, may produce too much carbon monoxide – potentially causing serious health risks to users. Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ) is urging owners of these gas heaters to stop using them immediately. The safety alert applies to: Regency i31 (purchased after 1 January 2010) supplied by...
EnergySafety
Media release
12 Mar 2019

Couple to pay $47,700 in consumer compensation, fines and costs (Kylie and Scott Sommer / Inspired Paving)

A Wanneroo couple involved in a landscaping business has been fined $12,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court on 8 March 2019 and ordered to pay a total of $32,986.67 in compensation to five out of six consumers for taking deposits but not commencing or completing the work. Kylie Elizabeth Sommer , trading as Inspired Paving , and her husband Scott Robert Sommer , who was involved in the business,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Mar 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 145.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 12 March 2019, most Caltex and Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 151.9 cpl (hiking by up to 31 cpl). All 7-Eleven, most BP and most Coles Express sites are...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Mar 2019

Small Business Development Corporation Bizlinks Event

Wageline is participating in the Small Business Development Corporation Bizlinks event for small business on Thursday 28 March 2019. Bookings are essential so click on the attached flyer and register now for this free event for small business owners. Bizlinks Flyer March 2019
Labour Relations
Department News
11 Mar 2019

Make moving smooth sailing

Moving house is an activity guaranteed to set the stress levels soaring, so it helps to know how to avoid potential nasty surprises when engaging the services of a furniture removalist. Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, it is a time-consuming and often expensive exercise dreaded by most. A moving ‘to-do’ list can seem endless. Not only do you need to find a new place to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Mar 2019

Easter public holiday arrangements 2019

The Easter period is rapidly approaching. If you are working or employing during this period, it is important to understand public holiday entitlements and obligations. The Western Australian public holidays for the 2019 Easter period are: Good Friday – Friday 19 April Easter Monday – Monday 22 April Visit the Easter 2019 public holiday arrangements page for: An overview of the Easter public...
Labour Relations
Department News
07 Mar 2019

Family in mourning, community leaders and the ABC win awards

A family in mourning over the death of a child from toppling furniture has won a Consumer Protection Award, along with a consumer advocate, a community support group and an ABC reporter. The winners were announced by Commerce Minister John Quigley during a presentation breakfast at the University Club of WA. Reef Kite was almost two years old when he was killed in October 2015 when a chest of...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Mar 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 143.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 5 March 2019, most Caltex, Coles Express and all Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 149.9 cpl (hiking by between 26 and 30 cpl). Most Puma sites are...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Mar 2019

Make sure rental bond is lodged on time

A security bond is a payment made in advance by a tenant to cover any costs for which the tenant may be liable at the end of the tenancy, such as damage to the property or unpaid water bills or rent. Bond money is held in trust for the duration of a tenancy and must be lodged by the landlord or property manager with the Bond Administrator at Consumer Protection within 14 days of receiving it...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Mar 2019

Scaffolding company fined $90,000 over worker fall death

A scaffolding company has been fined $90,000 (and ordered to pay $2100 in costs) over the death of a worker who fell through a skylight in the roof of the stadium. Perth Aluminium Scaffolds Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and was fined in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. In June 2016, HBF Stadium operator VenuesWest contracted a painting company...
WorkSafe
Media release
28 Feb 2019

False document for building application results in $4,000 fine (Carl Rocco Garreffa)

A Herne Hill man has been fined $4,000 and ordered to pay $943.50 in costs by the Perth Magistrates Court on 22 February 2019 after altering a certificate of title which was part of an application for owner-builder approval. Carl Rocco Garreffa had removed his wife’s name from the certificate of title of a property in Herne Hill which was jointly owned by the couple and failed to obtain her...
Building Commission
Media release
27 Feb 2019

Building Trades (Construction) Award pay rates have increased

State system employers and employees should note that the Building Trades (Construction) Award was varied in December 2018. Wageline has updated the WA award summary – Building Trades (Construction) to reflect the increased pay rates and allowances, which apply from the first pay period on or after 12 December 2018. To stay up to date with changes to pay rates and other key state employment news...
Labour Relations
Department News
26 Feb 2019

Perth metro retail trading hours extended for Labour Day and Easter Monday

The State Government has approved an additional four hours of trading for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area on both the Labour Day and Easter Monday public holidays. Larger shops will be able to trade any time between 8am until 6pm on Monday, 4 March 2019 (Labour Day) and Monday, 22 April 2019 (Easter Monday). Normally trading hours for these public holidays are 11am to 5pm. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Feb 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 22 cents per litre (cpl) to 143.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 26 February 2019, most Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 149.9 cpl (increasing by 30 cpl). Most 7-Eleven and BP sites are increasing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Feb 2019

Government agency fined $90,000 over worker fall death

The State Government agency that operates HBF Stadium has been fined $90,000 (and ordered to pay $2100 in costs) over the death of a worker who fell through a skylight in the roof of the stadium. Western Australian Sports Centre Trust – trading as VenuesWest – pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that persons at the workplace were not exposed to hazards, and was fined in Perth Magistrates Court...
WorkSafe
Media release
25 Feb 2019

Under the social media influence

As more brands turn to social media influencers to promote their product or service, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses and buyers to understand how the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) applies to sponsored content. Influencers don’t have to disclose any commercial arrangement regarding the products and services they promote and are free to express their opinions, but companies that...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Feb 2019

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