Announcements

Showing 151 - 175 of 2245 results
Consumer Protection disciplines real estate agent for racist conduct Email accused Indian immigrants of “turning our beautiful country into filth” WA tenants urged to speak out and report racist behaviour Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake has promised to stand behind any tenant calling out racist behaviour within the WA real estate industry. “There is no place for racism in society –...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Sep 2023
A sole trader in the Great Southern has been fined $47,250 (and ordered to pay $4241 in costs) over a fall suffered by a worker that caused serious injuries. Brett Sidney Cavanagh pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to an employee and was fined in the Katanning Magistrates Court on Monday. In August 2020, Mr Cavanagh...
WorkSafe
Media release
07 Sep 2023
Money is not the only thing scammers are looking to steal these days – your personal identification can be just as valuable to them. As part of their ruse, scammers posing as legitimate organisations or government service providers often pretend to need copies of your driver’s licence and passport to verify your identity, when their actual aim is to steal it. Having your identity stolen can cause...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Sep 2023
Whether it’s a gym, streaming service, or dating site you’re signed up to, it can be tricky keeping track of how much money is leaving your bank account each month to pay for subscriptions and memberships. These small, but regular, costs can soon add up and contribute to cost of living pressures, so it can be worthwhile taking the time to see which services are worth keeping and which ones aren’t...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Sep 2023
Media statement from Commerce Minister Sue Ellery New building guidance to help Western Australians building a home Key advice and important checks for each building or renovation stage Consumer-friendly videos to be translated to different languages and dialects Resources will protect communities and support the building & construction industry The Cook Government has developed a suite of...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Sep 2023
Electric shock risks from unearthed spit motor Flaming Coals SPG1500 1.5m dual-fuel spit with 100kg electric rotisserie Prohibition of sale, hire and use WA’s energy safety regulator has banned the sale, hire and use of a large spit rotisserie barbecue due to electric shock risks. Building and Energy’s statewide prohibition applies to the SPG1500 F laming Coals 1.5m dual fuel (gas and charcoal)...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Sep 2023
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today, motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 6 September 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 31 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Sep 2023
Media statement from Commerce Minister Sue Ellery Landmark registration of more than 1,000 engineers in the building sector The registration will deliver safer buildings and greater accountability Two-year transition periods for civil, structural, mechanical, and fire safety engineers Part of a wide-ranging improvement plan for building regulation in Western Australia The Cook Government is set...
Building and Energy
Media release
04 Sep 2023
Scammers stealing money and ID from seniors WA Seniors Card membership is free of charge and only available via www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au Contact ID Care immediately if you gave out your ID or your bank if you paid a fee Western Australian seniors are being targeted by scammers through a fake WA Seniors Card website requesting money and multiple forms of personal identification. The fake website...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Aug 2023
Following the recent update on plans to extend the transitional period associated with implementation of the NCC 2022 in Western Australia, Building and Energy has received a number of queries regarding the current transitional provisions.
Building and Energy
Department News
30 Aug 2023
Everyone has the right to privacy in their own homes, and those living in rental properties across Western Australia are certainly no exception. Claims of private landlords and property managers arriving unannounced for inspections, maintenance and rent collection are fairly common issues reported to Consumer Protection – in the past two years, our team has fielded 177 enquiries and 36 complaints...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Aug 2023
A fire assay company has been fined a total of $30,000 (and ordered to pay $5647 in costs) after four workers recorded high levels of lead in their blood and one was hospitalised. Jinning Pty Ltd pleaded guilty under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 to two charges of failing to ensure that biological monitoring was conducted on an employee in a lead-risk job, along with two...
WorkSafe
Media release
29 Aug 2023
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 30 August 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 31 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
29 Aug 2023
Personal information hacked and leaked to the dark web Major breach affects more than 70 Australian charities Public urged to be on high alert for uninvited calls, texts and emails Western Australians who have made financial donations to charities in the last 10 years or more are being urged to beware of scams following reports of a major data breach of a telemarketing company holding donor...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Aug 2023
WorkSafe has commenced a proactive inspection program to look at safety issues in WA aged care and residential care facilities. The inspection program will look at a number of randomly-selected facilities across metropolitan and regional areas of the State throughout the 2023/24 financial year. Inspectors will place a strong emphasis on industry-specific hazards, along with workplace violence and...
WorkSafe
Media release
24 Aug 2023
Many shoppers like to ‘tap-and-go’ when paying for purchases, while others like to hand-over cash, but one thing all consumers have in common is the right to receive a receipt if they want one. Consumer Protection was concerned recently to hear claims that a retailer in WA had denied a consumer’s request for a paper receipt, citing ‘company policy’ and pointing them to their own bank statement...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Aug 2023
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 23 August 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 30 cents per litre (cpl)...
Consumer Protection
Media release
22 Aug 2023
Negligent, misleading and unconscionable conduct under builder registration laws Issues during building projects in Shenton Park, Kensington and North Perth $25,000 total fine following SAT mediation with Building and Energy A father and son have been fined a combined $25,000 for improper conduct while overseeing four building projects, including carrying out unauthorised work, providing...
Building and Energy
Media release
17 Aug 2023
Nominations now open for 2024 Consumer Protection Awards Seeking consumer rights educators and advocates, including the media Individuals, organisations and groups urged to submit a nomination The search is on for outstanding individuals, organisations, groups and the media who advocate for and promote consumer rights in WA, with nominations open for the prestigious 20 th anniversary Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Aug 2023
There’s a lot to consider when buying a used car, such as your budget and what type of vehicle will suit your needs, but of utmost importance is ensuring you don’t drive away with a lemon. We recently issued a warning against licensed car dealer Ventura Autos, after receiving 136 complaints about the selling of unroadworthy vehicles, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. During their...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Aug 2023
WA’s building and plumbing regulator has announced preliminary findings from its investigation into water leaks in Perth homes from a particular brand of polybutylene pipe. Building and Energy’s investigation focused on identifying the cause of failure of Pro-fit polybutylene pipes made by Iplex Australia. Most water leaks occurred in pipes manufactured between mid-2017 and mid-2022. As part of...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Aug 2023
Building and Energy has completed its investigation into the Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire, which occurred on 6 February 2022. It has now commenced proceedings against Western Power for alleged breaches of the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015. The legislation requires network operators to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their network is designed, constructed, operated...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Aug 2023
Monday, 25 September 2023 is the King’s Birthday public holiday in Western Australia. Wageline has published public holiday information for state system employers and employees on the King’s Birthday 2023 public holiday page. This page provides specific information on entitlements for: award free employees Shop and Warehouse (Wholesale and Retail Establishments) Award Restaurant, Tearoom and...
Labour Relations
Department News
16 Aug 2023
The Work Health and Safety Regulations Amendment Regulation (no.2) 2023 came into effect on 10 August 2023 and provide for minor corrections and technical refinements. These amendments include: Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations The requirement for a high risk work licence for earthmoving machinery used as a crane will be removed for machinery that has a safe rated working load of three...
WorkSafe
Department News
16 Aug 2023
Building and Energy is advising property owners affected by the liquidation of Western Luxury Homes Pty Ltd to contact their home indemnity insurance (HII) provider, QBE Insurance. The Perth building company appointed liquidators on 11 August 2023. Building and Energy understands Western Luxury Homes was contracted for 12 home building projects dating from mid-2020. Building and Energy Executive...
Building and Energy
Media release
15 Aug 2023

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