Building and Energy
Western Australian building services, electrical, gasfitting and plumbing industries.
- Overview
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of Building and Energy.
- Licensing and registration and owner-builder approval
  Application and renewal for builders, building surveyors, electricians, gas fitters, painters and plumbers.
- Building approvals
  The process for getting building work approved.
- Building and energy consumer information
  Building or renovating your home and consumer safety.
- Industry information
  Codes, standards and reports for building services providers, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters.
- Dispute resolution
  Plumbing, building service, and home building work contract complaints.
- eNotice
  How to register and lodge electrical, gasfitting, plumbing and contractor payment dispute (Security of Payment Act) eNotices.
- Stay informed
  Bulletins, newsletters, subscriptions, events and seminars, videos, and public consultations.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Construction Contracts Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into BEFORE 1 August 2022.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Security of Payment Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into ON or AFTER 1 August 2022.
- Swimming pools, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms
  Information on private swimming pool safety barriers, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms for existing residential buildings.
- Report an accident
  How to report an accident or incident to Building and Energy.
Consumer Protection
Develops, enforces and promotes legislation that protects consumers.
- About Consumer Protection
  What Consumer Protection does, contacts and events.
- Housing and accommodation
  Information on renting, buying or selling a home, including accommodation for seniors.
- Consumer rights
  Information and advice for consumers including people with a disability, Aboriginal consumers, and multilingual consumers.
- Consumer concerns
  Advice on handling issues including a complaint checklist, sample letters and how to lodge a formal complaint.
- Business
  Information for businesses about their rights and responsibilities under consumer laws in Western Australia.
- Licences and registrations
  Information on applications, requirements, training and registrations for regulated industries.
- Charities and associations
  Information for charities and associations operating in Western Australia.
- Consultations, compliance and reports
  Compliance actions, public consultations and reports.
Labour Relations
State system employment laws and public sector labour relations.
- Private sector employers and employees
  Wageline information on WA awards, minimum pay rates, long service leave, annual and personal leave, underpayment issues, and how to contact Wageline and stay informed.
- Public holidays
  Public holiday dates for Western Australia.
- Western Australia's industrial relations system
  Information about the WA industrial relations system and its coverage, including inquiries and reviews undertaken.
- Government sector labour relations
  Information and resources for agencies on government sector employment and labour relations.
- Supplier wage audit
  Information on proactive audits undertaken by Private Sector Labour Relations on suppliers to State Government.
- Building and Construction Consultative Committee
  Information on the Western Australian Building and Construction Consultative Committee.
WorkSafe
Regulation and promotion of workplace health and safety including in general industry and the mining and petroleum industries.
- Report an incident
  Notify the regulator of a death, serious injury/illness or dangerous incident.
- Notify, submit or contact us
  Notify or submit items to WorkSafe.
- Apply for a licence or register plant
  Apply for licence, register an item of plant or learn about construction induction training.
- Mining statutory positions and certificates
  Information about statutory position appointments at mining operations.
- Work health and safety legislation
  Information about WA's work health and safety (WHS) laws.
- Health and safety representatives
  Information about HSRs.
- Health and safety topics
  How do I make my workplace safer?
- Petroleum and geothermal energy operations
  Information for operators of petroleum operations.
- Publications, resources and events
  Events, WorkSafe plan, statistics and education resources.
- Consulting with our stakeholders
  Information about consulting with stakeholders.
- Agricultural health and safety
  Provide work health and safety information about the agricultural sector including guidance, checklists, and latest news.
- What does WorkSafe do?
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of WorkSafe.
- Small business safety
  Your guide to safety and health in small business.
- Historical safety and health law
  Safety and health legislation prior to 2022.
Corporate
Freedom of information guidelines, reports, policies, plans, and contact information.
- About the department
  Our legislation, contacting us and freedom of information.
- About the website
  Information about our website and how to use it.
- Policies and plans
  Policies and strategic plans from the department.

Tradesperson

Topics

Itemised bills for services

Consumers must be provided with an itemised bill if they request one. The supplier must give the consumer the itemised bill, without charge, within seven days of the request. It must be expressed in plain language, legible and clear. A consumer can ask a supplier for an itemised bill which shows:...

Receipts

26 Feb 2014

Harassment and coercion

It is unlawful to use physical force, coerce or unduly harass someone about the supply of, or payment for, goods or services. Undue harassment means unnecessary or excessive contact or communication with a person, to the point where that person feels intimidated, tired or demoralised. Coercion...

Sales practices

26 Feb 2014

No refunds

WATCH

Telling consumers about their rights When it comes to consumer guarantees, you must be very careful about what you say to consumers about their rights, and the wording of any signs, advertisements or any other documents. What you cannot tell a consumer You must not tell a consumer that a consumer...

Returns and cancellations

26 Feb 2014

Cancelling a supply / service

A supplier must meet the consumer guarantees for providing services: with due care and skill; which are fit for any specified purpose; and within the time specified, or within a reasonable time (when no time is set). What is ‘reasonable’ will depend on the nature of the services. If services fail...

Returns and cancellations

26 Feb 2014

Consumer guarantee – reasonable time

Reasonable time, if no time set A contract or agreement for the supply of services usually states when the services will be provided and the date they will be completed. If not, you automatically guarantee to supply the service within a reasonable time. What is ’reasonable’ will depend on the...

Guarantees and warranties

25 Feb 2014

Consumer guarantee – services will be fit for purpose

Services must achieve the consumer’s stated purpose You guarantee your services will be reasonably fit for any purpose specified by the consumer and that any products resulting from the services are also fit for that purpose. Example: A consumer asks for a key to be cut to fit his door and shows...

Guarantees and warranties

25 Feb 2014

Consumer guarantee – due care and skill

What services are covered by the consumer guarantees? Services that you provide in the course of your business or professional activity, including not-for-profit services, that cost up to $100,000*, regardless of purpose or use. *post 1 July 2021 or $40,000 pre 1 July 2021 Which services are not...

Guarantees and warranties

25 Feb 2014

Consumer guarantee – acceptable quality

Acceptable quality Goods must be of an acceptable quality. Acceptable quality has a number of factors, including that the goods will be safe to use, and that they will be reasonably durable. Acceptable quality is determined by what a reasonable consumer fully familiar with the goods would regard as...

Guarantees and warranties

25 Feb 2014

Consumer guarantees – business rights and responsibilities

Whether you have to provide a refund, repair, replacement or compensation to a consumer for problems with goods or services depends on whether you have met consumer guarantees set by Australian law. You are responsible for understanding your legal obligations. Australia’s consumer protection...

Guarantees and warranties

25 Feb 2014

Trades licensing and registration requirements

In Western Australia, the following building trades are required to be licensed by the organisations listed: Builders are required to be registered with the Building Services Board . Building surveyors are required to be registered with the Building Services Board . Painters are required to be...

Responsibilities

19 Feb 2014

Publications

Scaffolding issues

READ WATCH

Recently WorkSafe has seen scaffolding where damaged components and unsafe practices were used in the erection of the scaffold. These included broken connection lugs and components secured with wire...

WorkSafe

Bulletin

07 Apr 2017

Building Commission Industry Bulletin 80 - Commencement of the remaining amendments to the Construction Contracts Act 2004

READ

Principals, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers working in the building and construction industry should be aware that the remaining sections 7 and 20 of the Construction Contracts Amendment...

Building and Energy

Bulletin

24 Mar 2017

Adjudication flow chart – Process and time for adjudications

READ

Process and time for adjudications under the provisions of the Construction Contracts (Former Provisions) Act 2004 as amended by the Construction Contracts Amendment Act 2016. This information...

Building and Energy

Fact sheet

28 Jul 2022

Building Commission News Edition 1/2016 – December 2016

Articles on the Yuanda building products audit, paint adhesion to white set plaster, emergency plumbing repairs in remote Aboriginal communities, changes to the Construction Contracts Act, industry...

Building and Energy

Newsletter

12 Dec 2016

Building Commission Industry Bulletin 74 - Changes to the Construction Contracts Act

READ

From 15 December 2016, important changes to the Construction Contracts Act 2004 (the Act) come into effect. These changes aim to improve the operation of, and access to, the rapid adjudication scheme...

Building and Energy

Bulletin

09 Dec 2016

Safety alert 4/2016 - Asbestos in imported building products

READ

In July 2016 asbestos was found in composite roof panels at the new Perth Children’s Hospital. The roof panels were imported from China and classified as “asbestos free”, but testing by a National...

WorkSafe

Alert

08 Jan 2024

Podcast - Discussion Paper - Work Health and Safety Regulations for WA

READ LISTEN

On Wednesday 1 June 2016, the WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner released the Discussion Paper - Work Health and Safety Regulations for Western Australia (the discussion paper) for public...

WorkSafe

Information

19 Jul 2016

Work Health and Safety Regulations Discussion Paper

READ

The Department of Commerce – WorkSafe Division has released a Discussion Paper on recommendations to amend the model Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS regulations) for the Western...

WorkSafe

Information

01 Jun 2016

Electrician's training licence for an Indentured apprentice

Application forms These application forms are for an electrician's training licence for an indentured apprentice. Electricians training licence for an indentured apprentice – R116 Form: Electricians...

Building and Energy

Form – application

01 Feb 2024

Electrician's training licence for a Pre-apprentice

Application forms These applications are to be used for applicants undertaking training as a pre-apprentice. Electrician's training licence (for pre-apprenticeship) – R117 Form: Electrician's...

Building and Energy

Form – application

01 Feb 2024

Announcements

Construction Contracts Act amendments introduced

The Liberal National Government today introduced legislation into State Parliament to protect payments to subcontractors in the construction industry.

Building and Energy

Department News

22 Sep 2016

National energy efficiency initiative

The 2016-17 financial year sees the Australian Building Codes Board embarking on a significant suite of work relating to the advancement of the Energy Efficiency Provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC). These changes will be considered as part of NCC 2019.

Building and Energy

Department News

21 Sep 2016

Audit update 1: Yuanda building products

A WA Building Commission update on its audit of Yuanda building products.

Building and Energy

Department News

01 Aug 2016

Changes to Building Services Board’s building practitioner exams

The Building Services Board (BSB) has refreshed its builder examinations to align with current legislation and building practices.

Building and Energy

Department News

25 Jul 2016

Auditor General’s report: Regulation of builders and building surveyors

A report by Auditor General Colin Murphy has assessed how well the Building Commission regulates Western Australia’s residential building industry.

Building and Energy

Department News

24 Jun 2016

Building Rules Advisory Committee – Expressions of interest & discussion paper

The Building Commission is currently considering the creation of a technical advisory committee for the purpose of considering and providing advice on technical building matters and queries regarding the requirements of building legislation, the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and related Australian Standards. The committee will be named the Building Rules Advisory Committee (BRAC). The...

Building and Energy

Department News

21 Jun 2016

World Plumbing Day, Friday 11 March 2016

World Plumbing Day is an international event that was launched seven years ago by the World Plumbing Council, and is now held every year on 11 March. On this day, government, industry and the community come together to celebrate all things plumbing, and recognise the important role plumbers play in protecting public health and safety, as well as the environment. Plumbing is vital to global health...

Building and Energy

Department News

08 Mar 2016

Bushfire reform aims to save lives

The State Government has announced reforms for building in bushfire-prone areas of Western Australia. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has prepared a map which identifies the bushfire-prone areas across the State. A bushfire hazard assessment will be required for new homes in areas identified as bushfire-prone on the map. The assessment will determine the level of construction...

Building and Energy

Department News

07 Dec 2015

Commissioner's Blog: Renovation risks

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe Are you planning home improvements? Perhaps a TV show like ‘The Block’ has inspired you to renovate. Consumer Protection has some important recommendations for you to consider before you hire tradespeople to carry out jobs at your property. Our top tip is NOT to pay large amounts of money for nothing in return. Recently we have issued...

Consumer Protection

Department News

27 Nov 2015

AS/NZS 5601 amendments available for comment

The AS/NZS 5601 drafts for comment have been released. The following draft amendments are available to download from the Standards Australia website : DR AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 Amd 2:2015 Gas Installations - General installations; and DR AS/NZS 5601.2:2013 Amd 1:2015 Gas Installations - LP Gas installations in caravans. The public comment period closes on 19 October 2015. Comments can be submitted...

Building and Energy

Department News

18 Aug 2015

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