Consumer

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Consumer guarantee framework 2018

The Commonwealth Government are seeking your views on the clarification, simplification and modernisation of the consumer guarantee framework Status: Open, closes Monday 23 April 2018. Background A recent review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) highlighted a number of benefits to Australians...
Consultations
14 Mar 2018

RCD letter to proprietors

Important electrical safety message from the Director of Energy Safety To the Proprietor Dear Sir / Madam No RCD means no second chance Residual current devices (RCDs) are the single most effective measure to prevent electrocutions, serious electrical injuries and fires. The circuit breakers and...
Residual current devices (RCDs)
09 Mar 2018

Gas Service Logbook

This Gas Service Logbook has been issued by the Director of Energy Safety as a means of recording information about the servicing of a consumer’s gas installation by a registered gas fitter. Use of this Gas Service Logbook for recording servicing work by a gas fitter satisfies the requirement of...
Installation and service record books
04 Jan 2018

Barbecue wire brushes

WATCH
Wire bristles from barbecue brushes can cause serious throat or digestive injuries when ingested. Thousands of injuries have been reported from accidentally consuming the bristles around the world, including in Australia. The metal bristles on barbecue brushes can become loose. Be aware of bristles...
Product safety for consumers
30 Nov 2017

The Sharing Economy for Consumers

WATCH
What is the sharing economy? The sharing economy is an online marketplace run by platform operators which connects consumers with people who have goods or services to sell, hire, rent or lease. Platform operators provide administrative functions, such as facilitating payment and managing the...
Your consumer rights
07 Nov 2017

Product safety for babies and children

Creating a safe and secure environment for your baby is important and we have collated some advice on common products and household tips to help you. The below pages and publications detail the various ways you can reduce or remove common hazards to avoid the risk of injury to your growing child...
Product safety for consumers
17 Aug 2017

State-wide cladding audit

Between July 2017 and June 2019, the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Building and Energy division coordinated Western Australia’s State-wide Cladding Audit. The audit was part of an Australia-wide initiative to check the cladding on high-risk buildings following the...
Compliance and audit
14 Aug 2017

Recent developments in non-conforming building products

What is being done nationally On 23 June 2015, the Australian Senate referred the issue of non-conforming building products to the Senate Economics Reference Committee. The Committee released its interim report ‘Safety – not a matter of good luck’ on 4 May 2016. The Senate Committee is due to hand...
Non-conforming building products
11 May 2017

Non-conforming building products

Background information Non-conforming building products (NCBPs) are products and materials that: claim to be something they are not; do not meet required standards for their intended use; or are marketed or supplied with the intent to deceive those who use them. For example a building product that...
Non-conforming building products
11 May 2017

Ticket scalping and reselling

WATCH
Event tickets can be bought and sold either directly (ie. word-of-mouth, Facebook, Gumtree) or through ticket reselling websites. However in WA, specific laws aim to prevent would-be-purchasers from paying more than a 10 percent mark- up and to prosecute ticket scalpers. Information on ticket...
Your consumer rights
30 Mar 2017

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Publications

Ask us - Samsung top loader washing machine safety recall

READ
Urgent Samsung top loader washing machine safety recall Samsung top loader washing machines which have been recalled remain in WA homes, potentially creating a serious fire hazard that puts lives at...
Consumer Protection
Flyers
03 Sep 2020

Future regulation of WA's accident towing industry: Consultation paper

READ
Why are reforms being considered? Following a vehicle accident, drivers can easily be taken advantage of as they are often highly vulnerable and in shock. Serious concerns about the accident towing...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
10 Aug 2020

Better Regulation Unit review of the fitness industry WA compliance letter June 2019

READ
This compliance letter is provided to Consumer Protection by the Better Regulation Unit (BRU) of the Department of Treasury. The BRU is responsible for assessing Decision Regulatory Impact Statements...
Consumer Protection
Information
21 Jul 2020

Decision Regulatory Impact Statement: The regulation of the fitness industry in Western Australia

READ
New fitness code published The Fair Trading (Fitness Industry Code) Regulations 2020 (WA) (that contain the new Fitness Industry Code) were published on 29 September 2020. This mandatory code comes...
Consumer Protection
Reports
16 Oct 2020

Guidelines for the safety of buildings near network operator assets

READ
The Guidelines for the safety of buildings near network operator assets are issued under Section 33AA of the Electricity Act 1945 . The risks and potential consequences of an electrical incident...
Building and Energy
Guide / handbook
18 Aug 2022

COVID-19 pandemic scam warning

READ
Scammers are using the pandemic to take advantage. Don’t be tricked!
Consumer Protection
Flyers
12 Jun 2020

General Inspection Report Three – Bush fire building requirements in Western Australia

READ
The objective of this general inspection was to determine if new residential buildings (dwellings) in designated bush fire prone areas are adequately meeting the bush fire building requirements of...
Building and Energy
Reports
03 Jun 2020

Building and Energy complaint form

READ
Use this PDF version of the complaint form to make a complaint to the department about a regulated building service or a home building work contract if you intend to print and submit a hard copy...
Building and Energy
Form – application
03 Aug 2022

Advisory letter - Earthing of lighting points and luminaires

READ
This advisory letter is issued by the electrical contractor or electrician to the owner or occupier.
Building and Energy
Advisory note
14 May 2020

Quad bike safety standard poster

READWATCH
The quad bike safety standard poster highlights the key requirements of the safety standard. Please download the poster and display in a highly visible location. For more information visit the quad...
Consumer Protection
Poster
12 Mar 2020

Pages

Announcements

Commissioner's Blog: Your rights on cancelled flights

Ask any traveller about their top travel peeves and cancelled or delayed flights are likely to feature highly on the list, given their potential to throw holiday plans and itineraries into turmoil. Flight cancellations and delays are among the most complained about issues to Consumer Protection – in the 2022/23 financial year, we received 530 complaints about flights being cancelled and 47...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Oct 2023

Explosion risk from South West electrical work

Electrician installed chargers near exposed lead-acid battery bank Risk of chargers igniting hydrogen produced by recharging batteries Electrician also submitted incorrect compliance documents A South West electrician has been ordered to pay $11,000 in fines and costs for a dangerous installation that could have caused a hydrogen explosion. Following prosecution by Building and Energy, the...
Building and Energy
Media release
18 Oct 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

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 18 October 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 34 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Oct 2023

Building Services Board refuses registration renewal – Boston Keys Pty Ltd trading as Intellibuild Constructions

The Building Services Board has refused to renew the building contractor registration of Boston Keys Pty Ltd (BC103204) on financial grounds. After reviewing Boston Keys’ application for registration renewal, the Board was not satisfied that the company met the financial requirements set out in the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 . The Board’s decision enables home owners with...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Oct 2023

Commissioner's blog: How much is too much to pay upfront?

Knowing how much to pay tradespeople up front, before the job begins, starts with knowing your consumer rights around job deposits, estimates and quotes – and knowing who you’re dealing with. Tradespeople provide all kinds of work and services including building, electrical, plumbing and gas, re-roofing, tree lopping, concreting, household repairs and other manual labour work. Most tradespeople...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Oct 2023

Gas safety alert for restaurant tabletop cooking

Explosion and injury risks from portable gas appliances with butane canisters Banned in restaurants, including tabletop cooking, and indoors All portable gas cooking appliances must be approved for use in Western Australia Diners and restaurant owners are reminded that portable gas appliances powered by butane canisters cannot be used for commercial purposes, such as tabletop cooking experiences...
Building and Energy
Media release
11 Oct 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

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 11 October 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 31 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2023

Rogue car dealer Ventura Autos warned again after name change (Ventura Autos / Car Central)

Second warning for Ventura Autos Pty Ltd, trading under different names such as Car Central, for continuing to sell unroadworthy vehicles Ten further defect notices issued since first public warning in July 2023 Five further complaints received by Consumer Protection Consumer Protection has issued a second public warning to car buyers in Western Australia, urging extra caution if considering...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Oct 2023

Fines for failures at five building projects – Mohammed Razaq of Babylon Homes and Construction Pty Ltd

Building work undertaken without the required permit, insurance or supervisor Five properties in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs Director fined and company now in liquidation The former director of a now-defunct Perth building company has been ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and costs for unauthorised work and inadequate oversight of five building projects. On 8 September 2023, the State...
Building and Energy
Media release
05 Oct 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Supporting a level playing field

Have you ever walked away from a business transaction and felt it was unfair or you questioned how you were treated? Whether you are a consumer or owner of a small business, you may have felt that it didn't feel like a level playing field. These types of business behaviours are referred to as unfair trading practices and the Australian Government is looking into how these behaviours might be...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Oct 2023

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