Following recent bushfires in Western Australia, the Building Commission would like to remind people of the availability of the publication ‘ Building for better protection in bushfire areas ’. The publication provides guidance to homeowners who are building or renovating their home in a bushfire prone area. It covers the regulated construction requirements and building standards for new homes...

In June 2013, the State Government announced that an independent review of Western Australia’s plumbing regulations would be undertaken by ACIL Allen Consulting. The consultant’s final report , which was informed through consultation with the WA plumbing industry, is now available.

Perth builder Antoun Garcia, trading as High Tech Construction, has been successfully prosecuted by the Building Commissioner for failing to meet his responsibilities under a home building contract. Garcia was found guilty of three charges at the Armadale Magistrates Court on 28 November 2013 and was ordered to pay fines of $12,000 and court costs of $621.15. He did not appear in court. The...

The Building Commission will introduce a number of enhancements to its existing compliance program in 2014, aimed at ensuring performance standards are being met and the licensing system works as intended. Many licensed plumbing contractors will have experienced a ‘compliance check’ from one of the Building Commission’s plumbing inspectors and in 2014, a compliance check of a contractor’s records...

A new transitional arrangement with current providers of home indemnity insurance in Western Australia will mean that it is business as usual. The transitional arrangement gives the Government time to consider and consult on recommendations in the Economic Regulation Authority’s Inquiry into Western Australia’s Home Indemnity Insurance Arrangements , which was tabled in Parliament in September...

Please note: The information contained in this news item has expired. The page has been retained for archiving purposes. This year’s Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) WA Chapter Conference will be held at the Joondalup Resort Hotel in Connolly on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October 2013. The theme is WA Building Act How do we measure up? with the conference set to examine the impact...

If you are a builder who advertises house and land packages, you are responsible for ensuring that your advertising complies with the Australian Consumer Law (WA) (ACL). The following advice, Compliance issues regarding advertising by builders, is provided to builders on behalf of the Department of Commerce's Consumer Protection division. For more information, please contact Consumer Protection...

Originally issued Thursday, 2 September 2010 An operator of the infamous WA business formerly known as ‘Bikini Girls Massage’ has been fined $12,100 and ordered to pay $5,000 in costs after admitting more than 40 breaches of fair trading and business name laws. Mr Bon Levi appeared at the Magistrates’ Court of Western Australia today for what was due to be the start of a trial but what was...

Originally issued Wednesday, 9 June 2010 The Supreme Court of WA has ordered the operators of ‘Bikini Girls Massage’ to cease carrying on any unregistered business and to cease placing misleading recruitment advertisements. The Commissioner for Consumer Protection launched the legal action to restrain Mr Bon Levi and Mr Colin Burton from further contravening the Business Names Act 1962 by...

Originally issued Sunday, 17 January 2010 The Commissioner for Consumer Protection has launched legal action in two Perth Courts against Bon Levi and Colin Burton, the alleged operators of the Bikini Girls Massage business, and their employee/agent Leigh Currie, alleging misleading advertising in respect of employment and breaches of business registration laws. The separate legal actions involve...