Gary Newcombe

May 2021 - Current

Gary Newcombe became Commissioner for Consumer Protection and Executive Director for Consumer Protection on Monday 24th May 2021.

Gary has 40 years' experience in the Commonwealth and State public sectors and the Western Australian Parliament, primarily in the areas of legal services; corporate investigations; policy development; community education and service delivery.

Gary served for 21 years as a Director with Consumer Protection, including numerous periods in the Commissioner’s role. During this time, Gary led the establishment of Consumer Protection's consumer education program, the implementation of FuelWatch, the development and implementation of the Australian Consumer Law in WA and the creation of the Consumer Protection Awards.

Since the creation of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) through the amalgamation of Commerce and Mines and Petroleum in 2017, Gary has been a member of the DMIRS Corporate Executive and Executive Director Service Delivery, with responsibility for the department's licensing, legal and customer information services.

Gary Newcombe - Commissioner Consumer Protection (2020 - current)

Previous Commissioners

Lanie Chopping

January 2020 - May 2021

Lanie first joined Consumer Protection in 2011 as Manager of Retail, Building and Services and later became Director of that area. Before joining Consumer Protection, Lanie held a senior position at the Economic Regulation Authority, was the Manager – Social Policy Unit, at the West Australian Council of Social Services, and also worked in community legal centres, including in the Pilbara region. 

In May 2021, Lanie Chopping left Consumer Protection to become the interim Director General for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Lanie Chopping - previous Commissioner for Consumer Protection (2020 - 2021)

David Hillyard

December 2015 - January 2020

David Hillyard worked with Consumer Protection for over 43 years. He was appointed as Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection in December 2015 prior to becoming Commissioner in 2017 until his retirement in January 2020. Prior to this, he was the Director of Consumer Protection’s Retail and Services Directorate.

David was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the areas of consumer protection and fair trading in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honour List announced by the Governor-General.

David Hillyard - previous Commissioner for Consumer Protection (2015 - 2020)