An unlicensed motor vehicle dealer in Armadale has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $569 after being convicted in his absence by the Perth Magistrates Court on 9 November 2018. Hussein Hadi had bought and sold 13 vehicles from October 2016 to November 2017 without a licence in breach of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said unlicensed...

A national voluntary recall has been issued for water absorbing balls sold by a WA supplier as a toy which may pose a danger to children. The supplier, Alpak Trade Pty Ltd trading as Fremantle Water Beads , has agreed to withdraw the water expandable polymer balls or water beads from the marketplace, but many of the products have already been sold in WA. The voluntary recall is the result of...

It’s only early November but many consumers are already searching for great deals as they plan for their Christmas and New Year celebrations yet, as always, it is a case of buyer beware especially when it comes to shopping online. This year our WA ScamNet team has received reports about fake websites selling everything from toys to barbecues and outboard motors. Buyers pay for the items which are...

A Perth bathroom renovation company and two of its officers have been fined $5,000 under WA’s building laws in relation to work at homes in Kalamunda and Gwelup. WA Bathrooms and Tiling Pty Ltd (trading as WA Bathrooms ), formerly based in Osborne Park, was convicted in Perth Magistrates Court last month of four charges brought by the Building Commissioner. The company’s director and general...

Building and Energy urges electricians working on power transformers to exercise caution after a recent incident where electrical workers were exposed to hazardous asbsestos-containing material (ACM). In January 2018, electrical workers undertaking repairs to a high voltage (HV) power transformer which had failed, disconnected the transformer by unbolting and removing a gland plate from the base...

Recent hikes in fuel prices have left many consumers searching for the best deal and trying to understand the reasons behind fluctuating prices. The price of fuel, like other retail products, is market driven and the government does not set the price. Consumer Protection operates the FuelWatch website which offers transparency in terms of what the prices at the pumps will do in the next 24 hours...

In September 2018, Private Sector Labour Relations conducted an education campaign promoting compliance by horse riding schools and equestrian centre businesses with the child employment provisions in the Children and Community Services Act 2004. Over 150 businesses across Western Australia were provided with information on child employments laws for this industry. The Children and Community...

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 12 cents per litre (cpl) to 162.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 30 October 2018, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (an increase of 19.4 cpl). Most BP and Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 165.9...

A State Government agency has been fined $100,000 (and ordered to pay costs) over the death of a remand prisoner crushed between a truck and a wall at Hakea Prison in 2015. Department of Justice (Department of Corrective Services at the time of the offence) pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care to ensure the safety and health of a person who was not an employee, and was fined in the...

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s inaugural Annual Report, tabled in Parliament on 19 September 2018, is now available on the website . The 2017-18 report highlights the department’s key achievements and financial performance for the last financial year and showcases what we do for the community of Western Australia. The report also includes independently audited reports...

A Perth plumber has been fined $1,000 by the Plumbers Licensing Board for failing to comply with a rectification notice about drainage and infrastructure issues at a Belmont development. Joshua Andrew O’Neill (PL7643) was subcontracted to provide plumbing and gas services during construction of the seven-unit complex in 2016 and 2017. Occupants later discovered that the property’s main drain had...