An Osborne Park building company has been fined for failing to manage and supervise excavation work that caused part of a neighbour’s garage to collapse in Leederville. Danmar Homes Pty Ltd (BC9032) and the company’s nominated supervisor, Robert George Williams (BP7911), were each fined $5,000 by the Building Services Board. Danmar Homes started work on the $2 million apartment development in...
Employers have been reminded to take steps to keep children away from hazardous workplaces during the coming school holidays. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said today many workplaces contained hazards that could result in injury, and some even contained potentially deadly hazards. “Workplaces such as factories and construction sites are not suitable locations for children and, sadly,...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Imagine waiting four years for money owed to you after leaving a retirement village. In extreme cases it’s the shocking reality for former retirement village residents who are left in serious financial hardship and distress and unable to pay for alternative accommodation. We know seniors in this position may have urgent needs to move into...
Independent fuel retailers have again offered Perth motorists the lowest ULP prices in 2019, making up all but one of the positions in the top ten table of the cheapest sites. FuelWatch data reveals that, for the second year running, the cheapest site in the Perth metropolitan area was FastFuel 24/7 in Forrestfield with an average ULP price of 130.2 cents per litre (cpl), closely followed by...
The school holidays are just starting and many children will be keen to earn some extra money by getting a job for the summer break. Employers, parents and young workers must be aware that there are restrictions on which types of businesses can employ children under the age of 15. There are also restrictions on working hours for children that apply during school holidays as well as term time. For...
As WA settles in for a season of Christmas lights, barbecues, new outdoor equipment and DIY projects, Building and Energy is sharing its top tips for a safe summer when using gas, electricity, roof spaces and items attached to building structures. Festive lights Building and Energy A/Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan is encouraging people to ensure their interior and exterior festive lights are...
The Wageline contact centre will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2019 to Wednesday 1 January 2020, and will reopen at 8:30am on Thursday 2 January 2020. Information on employment obligations and entitlements will continue to be available during that period on the Wageline website, www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/wageline .
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 17 December 2019, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price - Coles Express hiking by up to 36 cpl up to 165.9 cpl, BP to 164.9, Caltex to 163.9 cpl, 7-Eleven to 163.7...
A real estate sales representative who failed to complete Compulsory Professional Development (CPD) training as required by a special condition on his certificate of registration has been reprimanded and fined $1,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal. Consumer Protection began disciplinary action against Charles James Clarke , who works for a Cottesloe real estate agency, when he failed to...
WorkSafe has issued a reminder to workers to stay focused on safety and health in the lead-up to the festive season. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said today both employers and workers needed to pay particular attention to staying safe before and after Christmas. “As we head towards the end of the year and the festive season, it’s timely to remind both employers and workers of the need...
The second phase of consultation on proposed changes to retirement village laws in WA will look at the time it takes for former residents to receive their exit entitlements. Currently, in some extreme cases, former residents of retirement villages have reported waiting up to four years before they receive funds owing to them, often causing serious financial hardship and distress. These funds are...
The excitement of buying a puppy as a gift for Christmas has turned to disappointment for many consumers who have been scammed out of their money. In recent cases, two Perth consumers reported losing $2,350 each after making payments via a fake website French Bulldog Rehoming . Consumer Protection is working towards having the website closed down. Consumer Protection has received reports from 23...
Building and Energy intends to carry out a General Inspection to assess how well building standards are being applied in relation to the resistance of moisture penetration from wind driven rain during a storm event. This follows an analysis of complaints, audit statistics and information gathered from external parties that indicate wind driven rain penetrating homes is problematic. Inspection...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard It has been my position for a number of years that a small amount of damage to a wall, which can easily be repaired, is a small price to pay for ensuring the safety of children living in a rental home. Since 2001, on average, one child a year has died in Australia from toppling furniture with many more suffering serious injuries. I’m really...
Message from Building and Energy A/Executive Director, Saj Abdoolakhan *Please note that due to the current Covid-19 pandemic the date for responding to the CRIS has been extended to 30 June 2020 Building and Energy is inviting Western Australians to share their views on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the commercial building approval...
The new wage theft website at www.wagetheft.wa.gov.au assists Western Australian workers with how to: seek help with resolving an underpayment issue or unpaid annual or long service leave; report wage theft anonymously to the relevant government department; or seek help with unpaid superannuation. Visit www.wagetheft.wa.gov.au for more information.
An unlicensed dealer who illegally sold five vehicles and wound back the odometers of two of those vehicles was fined a total of $15,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court on 6 December 2019. Rasmus Sepping , formerly of Redcliffe but now living in Melbourne, pleaded guilty on 6 December 2019 of buying and selling five vehicles between October 2017 and September 2018 without having a licence, in...
The landlord of a Darch rental property has been fined $4,000 by the Joondalup Magistrates Court for failing to lodge a bond with the Bond Administrator and was ordered to pay back the $1,400 bond to his tenant. Ive Cvitan of Darch entered into a rental agreement with the tenant in May 2017 when the $1,400 bond was paid and a receipt was issued, however Mr Cvitan did not provide the tenant with...
A former building company director has been fined $40,000 in the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for hiring a group of men to threaten and intimidate five clients in Perth’s western suburbs. Talbot James Le Page was also ordered to pay $2,000 in costs and declared ineligible to be an officer of a building contractor for the maximum period of three years. The SAT also ordered cancellation of...
Electrical safety inspectors from Building and Energy are investigating an electric shock incident that resulted in the tragic death of a 50-year-old man last night. Emergency services and Western Power also responded to the incident, which occurred at the man’s home in The Vines at approximately 6.30pm yesterday (Monday 9 December 2019) . The man was found unresponsive near an outdoor spa pool...
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 155.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 10 December 2019, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price - Coles Express by 30 cpl up to 165.9 cpl, BP to 164.9, Caltex to 163.9 cpl, 7-Eleven and Puma to 163.7 cpl,...
The Report of the Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia was released by the State Government on 6 December 2019. The Inquiry Report makes a total of 28 recommendations to address wage theft in Western Australia. Broadly, the recommendations include strategies which aim to: increase awareness of employment rights and obligations in Western Australia; provide a pathway for employees who have...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Baby walkers are a common sight in family homes. But they can be a dangerous product with more than 100 children ending up in hospital emergency departments each year because of baby walker accidents. Consumer research shows that 32 per cent of carers placed no restrictions on where a baby walker was used, which is really concerning. A baby...
The growing rate of WA households installing solar PV systems has been mirrored by a growing rate of complaints to Consumer Protection. In the past 12 months, more than 200 people have reported having issues following the installation of a solar system at their property. Complaints relate to the performance of their solar system, including the panels and inverter, as well as other issues relating...
Our offices will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2019 to Wednesday 1 January 2020. Normal services will return on Thursday 2 January 2020. For urgent enquiries please visit our contact page.
