David Hillyard was appointed as Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection in December 2015. Prior to this, he was the Director of Consumer Protection’s Retail and Services Directorate. David has worked with Consumer Protection for over 35 years and has been in senior management roles where most...
Don't feel pressured into buying or signing anything - you can walk away from sales people who make you feel uncomfortable. Take a look at our new song produced and performed by Bryte MC (feat Ms Shea).
It's Ok to walk away, by Bryte MC (feat Ms Shea) Many...
The National Relay Service helps deaf, hearing and/or speech-impaired people to make and receive phone calls. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety uses NRS to ensure our contact numbers are accessible to people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. To access a...
The 2015 Indigenous Consumers Count report presents the findings of research into the perceptions of Indigenous consumers as well as Indigenous corporations, advocates and service providers concerned with the needs of Indigenous Western Australians. The objective of the project was to explore:...
The Department of Commerce acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their culture. Kangaroo Paw (Kurulbrang...
Supporting reconciliation and Indigenous Australians
Have you seen those ads on TV telling you how affordable a funeral plan can be? They say you can put money aside now to take the pressure off your family later. There are different ways to pay for a funeral, but some may be more suitable for you than others. One of the easiest ways to pay for a...
The WA Police Major Fraud Squad works closely with Consumer Protection to identify and prevent consumer fraud in Western Australia under the banner Project Sunbird . WA ScamNet website continually updates information about Project Sunbird and provides general advice to help you identify and avoid...
Scams, ripoffs and frauds are becoming more and more commonplace. Consumer Protection has developed WA ScamNet as one method of combatting this ever increasing problem. WA ScamNet What is WA ScamNet? WA ScamNet profiles the most prevalent scams targeting Western Australians and provides information...
The following provides links to media statements where the Department has named traders (businesses and individuals) or conducted other compliance action for non-compliance with laws administered by Consumer Protection . The cases listed below are from 1 July 2014. Previous cases can be found under...
Consumer protection and other agencies have produced publications and resources that you may find useful. It's Ok to Walk Away "It's Ok to walk away" is a National Indigenous Consumer Strategy designed to educate and empower consumers in Aboriginal communities to know their consumer rights. See the...
This template form can serve as a record of authorised emergency plumbing work in remote aboriginal communities as required under Part 4A of the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations...
This Decision Paper has been prepared in compliance with the Western Australian Government’s requirement for a regulatory impact assessment and provides details of proposed reforms to the Plumbers...
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...
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...
Portable swimming pool safety considerations Q. What are some of the safety issues associated with portable swimming pools? A. Drowning of young children under five years of age in portable pools is...
Better Trading was a free electronic newsletter published by Consumer Protection. It contained current issues, important events and future trends in consumer protection and fair trading matters...
The “My Dardy Car” radio series are personal stories and advice from experts about buying and keeping a car. It includes the views of a number of Indigenous consumers plus advice from a car mechanic...
Rand Transport (1986) Pty Ltd was handed a $45,000 fine and a $2900 costs penalty in the Perth Magistrate Court following serious ammonia gas burns to a contract worker. Rand, a cold storage food distributor, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace where contractors were not exposed to hazards. On 11 December 2014, during the construction of a dividing wall within a...
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Consumer Protection WA is a proud supporter of Fraud Week, which this year starts on the 15 th of May and aims to help social media users learn how to spot a scam. Social media profiles often display a lot of personal information, such as your photos, where you have been lately, a record of life events, who you’re connected to and...
The Minister for Commerce has approved amendments being made to the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 (the Plumbing Regulations) to help improve health and living conditions in Western Australia’s remote Aboriginal communities. The changes will allow a suitably qualified environmental health worker based in or close to communities where ready access to a licensed plumber...
Aboriginal consumers, who are regarded as vulnerable targets for unscrupulous salespeople, are being advised ‘it’s ok to walk away’ as part of an education campaign by Consumer Protection. Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said one aim of the campaign is to make Aboriginal consumers aware of their consumer rights and have the confidence to say no. “We hope to embolden...
The Building Commission has released a decision paper on reforms that will allow a specified range of basic emergency plumbing repairs to be carried out by trained Environmental Health Workers in 205 of Western Australia’s remote Aboriginal communities.
Consumer Protection WA welcomes legal action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against a training provider that allegedly offered free laptops or iPads to vulnerable people in order to sign them up for supposedly Government-funded courses, which would in reality leave the person with a significant student debt. Following an investigation into the conduct of private colleges,...
With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe... You may have seen or heard adverts about ways to pay for your funeral in advance to take the pressure off your family when the time comes. A funeral could cost thousands of dollars depending on the kind of service you want, which means planning ahead is a good idea. However, paying for funeral cover can be expensive and complex. One of...
Consumer Protection today launched a campaign to help prevent Indigenous consumers from signing up for funeral plans that can be expensive, complex and not suitable for their needs. The “Avoid a funeral R.I.P-off” national campaign provides helpful advice for Indigenous Australians about their rights under the Australian Consumer Law, before buying a funeral plan or funeral cover. Commissioner...
Consumer Protection is warning Western Australians not to deal with Gerardus (Gerry) Hermanus Jorissen who has sent at least $200,000 of other people’s money to overseas criminals under the guise of an investment scheme. Mr Jorissen who lives in Moora, came to the attention of authorities in 2013 as a possible fraud victim identified by Project Sunbird – an anti-fraud initiative run...
Consumer Protection is warning Western Australians, particularly those in remote and regional communities, about door-knockers offering ‘free’ laptops to people who sign up for courses. Acting Commissioner David Hillyard says varying reports are being looked into and there’s a common theme that consumers are on a low-income and thought they were dealing with someone working for, or associated...
