A series of controlled burns filmed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services have shown how rapidly fire, smoke and toxic fumes can fill a room and turn deadly. A fire in a modern home has the potential to spread and engulf a room in under five minutes. The vision of the controlled burns demonstrates the need for Western Australians to treat home fire safety as a priority this winter by...

The 1 July 2018 pay rates are now available on the Minimum pay rates for award free employees page and the WA award summaries page of the Wageline website. If you are covered by a WA award that does not have a Wageline summary, check the new rates in the award on the WA Industrial Relations Commission website when available or contact Wageline on 1300 655 266. The state minimum wage for award...

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 156.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 26 June 2018, most BP, Caltex, Caltex Woolworths, Puma and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 159.9 cpl (an increase of between 20 cpl and 24 cpl). All 7-...

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (the Department) has been running information sessions in metro and regional areas discussing proposed changes to plumbing regulation in Western Australia. Two more Perth dates have been added and this is the final opportunity for stakeholders to find out more about the proposals and provide any feedback to the Department. Dates and times: 4...

Today the WA Industrial Relations Commission increased the state minimum wage for adult award free employees and all pay rates in WA awards effective from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2018. The Commission has awarded a $18 per week increase in the state minimum wage for award free employees, lifting it to $726.90 per week. WA award rates of pay will also increase by $18 per week...

Consumer Protection has issued advice to Kambo’s and Liebe + Haus customers who may be affected by the closure of the stores after they were placed into administration on Friday, 8 June 2018. Customers affected include those who: have paid either partly or fully for goods yet to be delivered; have entered into a lay-by agreement and paid a deposit; wish to redeem a gift card; have a store credit...

A Leschenault builder Agostino Ietto (BP10480) has been ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 to the Building Commissioner for negligence as a result of an East Bunbury house that was not constructed in accordance with the plans that were approved in 2015. The Building Services Board imposed the fine against Agostino Ietto, the nominated supervisor for Ietto West Developments Pty Ltd, due to the...

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 159 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 5 June 2018, most BP, Caltex and Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl (increasing between 25 and 26 cpl). Most 7-Eleven, Coles Express and Puma sites...

Do you have a Vulcan Heritage or a Pyrox Heritage gas heater? People with Vulcan Heritage or Pyrox Heritage gas heaters in their homes need to get them checked by a qualified gas fitter immediately. Laboratory tests show that under certain conditions the heaters produce too much carbon monoxide. Particularly if homes have poor ventilation and bathroom exhaust fans or kitchen rangehoods are used...

The 2018 edition of the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas (the Map) comes into effect on Friday 1 June 2018. The Map will be available on the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) website on the afternoon of Thursday 31 May 2018. This edition of the Map will show both ‘new’ bush fire prone areas and those ‘continuing’ from earlier editions of the Map. All bush fire prone areas will be...

Rand Transport (1986) Pty Ltd was handed a $45,000 fine and a $2900 costs penalty in the Perth Magistrate Court following serious ammonia gas burns to a contract worker. Rand, a cold storage food distributor, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace where contractors were not exposed to hazards. On 11 December 2014, during the construction of a dividing wall within a...

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard No place for family violence Did you know WA is second only to the NT when it comes to rates of family and domestic violence (FDV) and there were more than 50,000 reported incidents across the State in 2016-17? Sadly, family violence is a growing problem in our community and the abuse, whether physical or psychological, often occurs in...