Announcements

Showing 201 - 225 of 1592 results

Cook Government driving change to protect used car buyers in WA

New checklist for used car buyers to protect consumers from buying a lemon Legislative changes will require WA car dealers to disclose repairable write-off status Changes protect used car buyers from repairable write-offs when buying from a dealer In the past three years 259 people reported being scammed while buying a car online The Cook Government is driving change to make West Australian roads...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Aug 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Rent scams rise to record levels

Money’s tight right now for many Western Australians, so the last thing any hopeful tenant needs is to be scammed out of their hard earned money, on top of having no-where to live. Unfortunately that’s the reality for a growing number of WA renters, as scammers pretending to be landlords flood online marketplaces and social media platforms with fake property listings and responses to ‘rental...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Aug 2023

Warning to gas fitters – Lighting gas storage water heaters

A timely reminder to follow the lighting instructions. Building and Energy recently investigated an incident that resulted in a gasfitter being admitted to hospital after sustaining flash fire burn injuries to the face and eyes while attempting to relight a gas storage water heater. This incident occurred while the gasfitter was attending a service call when the property owner advised the...
Building and Energy
Department News
01 Aug 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 2 August 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 27 cents per litre (cpl)...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Aug 2023

Long service leave when employment ends

Under the WA Long Service Leave Act , after 7 years of continuous employment an employee may have an entitlement to payment of long service leave when their employment ends due to resignation, dismissal, redundancy or if the employee dies. This entitlement applies to full time, part time and casual employees. This entitlement depends on the length of the employee’s continuous employment, which...
Labour Relations
Department News
31 Jul 2023

Building contractor fined for providing a false insurance certificate – Go2 Group Pty Ltd

False home indemnity insurance certificate provided Building Services Board issues $3,500 fine Building permit application attempts to mislead permit authority The Building Services Board has issued a $3,500 fine to a Port Kennedy building contractor for providing a false certificate of home indemnity insurance (HII) to a permit authority as part of a building permit application. The Board found...
Building and Energy
Media release
31 Jul 2023

Building contractor provides multiple false certificates of home indemnity insurance – Transilvania Constructions Pty Ltd

False home indemnity insurance certificates provided for a development project Permit authority misled when issuing a building permit $5,000 fine issued by the Building Services Board The Building Services Board has issued a $5,000 fine to a Herne Hill building contractor for misleading a permit authority into issuing a building permit based on false home indemnity insurance (HII) certificates...
Building and Energy
Media release
31 Jul 2023

Electrical safety regulator investigating Nollamara death

Investigators from the State Government’s electrical safety regulator, Building and Energy, are on site at a property in Nollamara where an electrical worker tragically died this morning. The 24-year-old electrician was found deceased in the home’s roof space. Western Australia’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, has extended his deepest condolences to the electrician’s loved ones. “Our...
Building and Energy
Media release
29 Jul 2023

WA businesses face tough penalties for unfair consumer contracts

Businesses that mislead or treat consumers unfairly face new and higher penalties Standard form consumer contracts may need to be reviewed and updated to comply New adoption mechanism used for the first time to update WA laws with national changes Businesses that present Western Australian consumers with unfair terms in their standard form contracts could soon face tough penalties following...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Jul 2023

Infringement notices issued for not keeping employment records

Private Sector Labour Relations industrial inspectors have the power to issue state system employers a civil infringement notice, similar to an ‘on-the-spot fine’, for failing to comply with record keeping or pay slip requirements. Recently a number of infringement notices have been issued to employers by industrial inspectors. One of these employers was the owner of a restaurant in an outer...
Labour Relations
Department News
27 Jul 2023

Administration of Modco Residential

Building and Energy is advising home owners who have contracts with insolvent builder Modco Residential Pty Ltd to contact home indemnity insurance (HII) provider QBE. The Perth building company’s external administration notice was published today (26 July 2023). Building and Energy understands Modco Residential was directly contracted for 29 residential building projects that are yet to be...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 Jul 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Keep kids safe and warm this winter

During the chilly months, it’s important to keep our families warm while also staying vigilant to the potential dangers of commonly-used heating products. Children are particularly vulnerable to burns and accidents from ‘winter warmers’ such as hot water bottles, open flames, heaters and loose-fitting sleepwear. While hot water bottles are a cheap and popular way to fend off the cold, they can...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Jul 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 26 July 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 29 cents per litre (cpl) to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Jul 2023

Consumers urged to exercise caution dealing with licensed car dealer (Ventura Autos Pty Ltd)

Ventura Autos Pty Ltd continues to sell unroadworthy vehicles to consumers. 136 complaints received by Consumer Protection from WA consumers since 2016. Five compliance visits have resulted in 43 defect notices being issued. Consumer Protection warns WA consumers to exercise caution when buying vehicles from a licenced car dealer in Welshpool, after receiving 136 complaints relating to it selling...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Jul 2023

$75,000 fine for profit-driven and illegal electrical advice – Pascoes Maintenance Group Pty Ltd

Unqualified employee told to follow a script and manual to upsell electrical work Bonus scheme encouraged sales of electrical safety packages for at least $4,000 Vulnerable consumers told their homes and families were unsafe Pascoes Maintenance Group Pty Ltd has been fined $75,000 for instructing an unqualified employee to assess electrical installations as part of an “upselling” sales strategy...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Jul 2023

Farm Employee Award and WA award summary updated

The state Farm Employees Award was updated by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) in May 2023, with the changes to the WA award effective from 1 July 2023. Wageline has published a new WA award summary for the Farm Employees Award which incorporates the changes made by the award variation. The changes to this WA award include: new provisions for part time employees,...
Labour Relations
Department News
19 Jul 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Spot the clues of fake online reviews

Word of mouth recommendations in the real-world can be a useful tool when deciding which product or service to buy, however the same can’t always be said when seeking out this type of guidance online. Nearly 40 per cent of consumers turn to the internet to read user reviews as part of their research, according to an investigation by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, but it may not be immediately...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Jul 2023

Over $660,000 recovered in unpaid wages and entitlements

Industrial inspectors in Private Sector Labour Relations recovered $664,456 in unpaid wages and entitlements in the 2022/23 financial year. In the last 12 months, industrial inspectors completed 258 workplace investigations relating to underpayments under state employment laws, including wages under WA awards, and long service leave entitlements under the WA Long Service Leave Act. State system...
Labour Relations
Department News
18 Jul 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 19 July 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 30 cents per litre (cpl) to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Jul 2023

Say bon voyage to unsafe travel adaptors

Electric shock risk if power adaptors do not meet Australian safety standards Check for compliance symbol, insulated pins and no exposed metal when in use Buy from reputable retailers and be cautious about overseas or online sales A rise in electric shock reports has prompted a warning from WA’s energy safety regulator about dangerous travel adaptors that are not approved for use in Australia...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Jul 2023

Liquidation of City Residence Pty Ltd

Following the liquidation of Perth builder City Residence Pty Ltd , Building and Energy is advising affected property owners to contact QBE to discuss a home indemnity insurance claim. City Residence appointed liquidators yesterday (12 July 2023). Building and Energy understands the company was yet to complete 13 residential building projects. Building and Energy Acting Executive Director Nabil...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Jul 2023

New employment explainer videos

Wageline has just launched a series of new explainer videos which help WA employers and employees understand their rights and obligations under state employment laws. These new videos are embedded in the relevant content pages, or you can watch all seven on the Employment explainer videos page. The Which system of employment law applies video explains which types of businesses or organisations...
Labour Relations
Department News
13 Jul 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Boarders and lodgers have rights too

Rising rents and a lack of available homes have prompted many Western Australians to seek out share houses as a way of keeping a roof over their heads at a price they can afford. Before taking on a housemate, or becoming one yourself, it’s crucial that everyone understands the arrangement they have agreed to, as the law applies differently to boarders and lodgers than it does to co-tenants or sub...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jul 2023

Tradesman fined for stonewalling on repairs – Antonino Arto

$34,600 staircase, decking and painting project left incomplete and faulty $8,000 fine after guilty plea for non-compliance with a building remedy order Previous order to pay more than $47,000 in rectification costs After issuing an $8,000 fine for abandoned building work, a magistrate has warned tradespeople not to accept jobs if they cannot complete them to the expected standards. The comments...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Jul 2023

Pool repairer in deep water – Steven Edward Eatwell

Failure to fix defective swimming pool plasterwork $3,750 fine for not complying with a building remedy order Home owners previously received $19,000 compensation payment An Armadale swimming pool renovator will pay more than $4,000 in fines and costs after ignoring an official order to rectify work at a Roleystone property. In Armadale Magistrates Court on 13 June 2023, Steven Edward Eatwell of...
Building and Energy
Media release
11 Jul 2023

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