A decorative alcohol-fuelled (ethanol) burner exploded in a suburban backyard in Perth’s southern suburbs at the weekend, prompting a reminder to consumers that certain table-top models have been banned. The explosion on Saturday evening 27 April 2019 is believed to have been sparked by a burner being re-fuelled while still lit and injured four people, including a child, who were taken to...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Consumer Protection WA and our counterpart agencies across Australia are reminding people with disability of their consumer rights as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues to roll out. The NDIS brings extensive change for people with disability and for businesses or providers in the scheme. Since the NDIS began its...
Two Perth seniors have lost money to scammers, claiming to be from the NBN or a telco, who have adopted tactics aimed at accessing their computers and bank accounts while preventing them from making calls to their family or their bank. An 81 year old man received a call from someone claiming to be from the NBN and, as he had been connected to the NBN just the day before, he thought it was a...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by about 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 158.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 30 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 164.9 cpl (hiking by 24 cpl). Most BP and Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 163...
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is conducting a stakeholder satisfaction survey to invite feedback on our services and our role as a regulator. The results will help DMIRS focus on business areas and services that need performance improvements. If you subscribe to a DMIRS email newsletter or subscriber news service, you may be contacted by email and invited to take...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection, David Hillyard Families, friends and the rural communities in which they live are mourning the deaths of two boys aged under ten who lost their lives recently in separate quad bike accidents in WA and Tasmania. The tragic accidents occurred on farms and involved rollovers, a common set of circumstances when we look at the statistics. On average, 16...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard A flurry of bills has depleted your bank account, but you suddenly need a new fridge and one of your favourite brands is on super-special. It’s a tempting scenario: the chance to receive a product or service immediately without paying for it straight away. As the term suggests, buy-now-pay-later...
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 14 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 23 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl (increasing by 25 cpl). Most BP, Caltex Woolworths and 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard WA has the worst rates of family and domestic violence in Australia and the number of incidents is unfortunately increasing. Family violence affects people from all walks of life making it everyone’s business and all of us have a part to play in preventing it. Changes to WA’s tenancy laws have now come...
New tenancy laws to assist Western Australian renters affected by family and domestic violence are now in force. The new laws allow a tenant to end their tenancy with as little as seven days' notice if they or their dependants are impacted by family and domestic violence, even if the perpetrator is not named on the lease. There is no need to go to court and a new Consumer Protection form can be...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 155.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 16 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 161.9 cpl (hiking by 23 cpl). Most Caltex Woolworths, BP, Caltex and 7-Eleven sites are increasing their...
An illegal pyramid scheme has been uncovered that targets WA women and masquerades as a support network. Two women, one from the South-West of WA, have contacted Consumer Protection reporting the activities of the pyramid scheme which is being promoted as a Gifting Mandala , prompting a warning for people not to get involved. The gifting circle involves a woman paying a ‘gift’ of around $270 to...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 152.3 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 9 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 159.9 cpl (hiking by 23 cpl). Most BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 157.9 cpl, most Caltex...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 151.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 2 April 2019, many Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 158.9 cpl (hiking by 23 cpl). Most Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 156.9 cpl, most BP and 7...
Consumer Protection is warning landlords who manage their own rental properties in WA to comply with their legal requirements under the Residential Tenancies Act or face being prosecuted. The warning follows a court case on 21 March 2019 in the Perth Magistrates Court where landlord Mark Alasdair Adam , formerly of Bayswater but now residing in Sydney, was convicted in his absence and fined $10,...
Consumer Protection and the WA Police Force are making a desperate plea to the community to help them hunt down travelling conmen who are ripping off Perth home owners, many of them seniors, in a roofing scam. Reports have been received of conmen who knock on doors of unsuspecting home owners, convincing them that urgent roof repairs are required to their homes. They then charge exorbitant rates...
UPDATE 27/03/2019: Consumer Protection has received about 90 calls/emails from consumers affected by the closure of Launch Film Productions, with funds at risk estimated at $450,000. Liquidator appointed is Katie Blyth, PricewaterhouseCoopers 9238 3000 - www.pwc.com.au Consumer Protection is investigating the closure of a Wangara wedding photography business which has alarmed many consumers...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by more than 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 150.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 26 March 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 156.9 cpl (hiking by 24 cpl). Most 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP price to 155.9 cpl, most...
A Mount Barker car restorer has been fined $5,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for advertising his services without having a motor vehicle repair business licence. Grantley Peter Graham , trading as G & T Restorations , was also ordered to pay costs of $514 when he was convicted in his absence on 22 February 2019 of breaching the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act. Mr Graham held a motor vehicle...
A 70 year old WA man has fallen victim to an elaborate card game gambling scam, losing about $300,000 to fraudsters in the Philippines over a 15 month period. The complex scam began when the victim was approached and befriended by a man at a shopping centre in Manila where the victim revealed he was looking for an apartment and a partner. The Filipino man invited the victim back to his home to...
Rosie Batty has given her support to planned changes to WA tenancy laws to assist renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV). The former Australian of the Year (2015), who has been a domestic violence campaigner since her son Luke was tragically murdered by his father, gave the endorsement during a visit to Kalgoorlie, where she met with Consumer Protection’s Senior Regional Officer...
Consumer Protection today paid tribute to Karen Merrin, a tireless champion of the community services sector, who has lost her battle with cancer. Karen, a Consumer Protection Award winner in 2017, was the inaugural manager of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre (NSCLC) in Mirrabooka when it first opened in 1996. The Centre delivers advice, advocacy and representation to almost 4,000...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 148.3 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 19 March 2019, most 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP price to 154.9 cpl (hiking by 28 cpl). Most Caltex, Caltex Woolworths, BP and Coles Express sites are increasing their...
Consumer Protection has launched their new logo on World Consumer Rights Day with a busy year ahead planned for their work protecting consumers in WA. The new logo incorporates the umbrella from the previous logo which represents protection but is more colourful with the aim of making it stand out. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said the vibrant colours are designed to make...
Now summer is officially over, our attention may soon turn to gas heaters and other gas appliances in the home. A recent safety alert affecting four popular gas heaters is a timely reminder that any gas equipment should be used and maintained correctly to avoid potentially dangerous consequences. Along with our colleagues at Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ), Consumer Protection is...
