Consumer

Topics

Avoid injuries with DIY work

Many people enjoy the challenge of DIY work to repair or create something themselves, especially when they’re on a budget, but sometimes things can go horribly wrong. All consumers should take care when doing DIY work around the home or under their vehicle. Some jobs are best left to the experts,...
Home safety
03 Sep 2014

Western Australian Consumer Protection Awards

WATCH
CP Awards - 2024
CP Awards - 2024, by Consumer Protection
2024 Consumer Protection Awards Congratulations to the 2024 winners - the year we celebrate our 20th anniversary of the awards. Read more at our winners and finalists page . Register your email to be kept informed on winners and updates. About the Consumer...
Consumer Protection Awards
02 Sep 2014

Infinity brand electric cable safety recall

WATCH
A national recall is being coordinated by a taskforce chaired by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Building and Energy and Consumer Protection are working with the taskforce as the WA regulators. The sub-standard cables, imported by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd (in liquidation...
Electrical installations
26 Aug 2014

Product safety publications

WATCH
There is a wide variety of products around our home or workplace which can be dangerous if not installed or used properly. Each year there are a number of consumer alerts and/or product recalls including sunglasses, car ramps and jacks, hot water bottles, ethanol heaters and decorative burners,...
Product safety for consumers
26 Aug 2014

Infinity electrical cable recall consumer information

WATCH
Infinity electrical cables were recalled due to safety concerns on 27 August 2014. If you had electrical work done during 2012 or 2013 to your house, rental or commercial property it is strongly recommended you contact your electrician and ask if they have used this product in your property. The...
Home safety
26 Aug 2014

Buyer's agent

A buyer’s agent provides a service directly to consumers looking to buy real estate. Buyer’s agents offer a number of different services, ranging from researching a single property to undertaking a complete search of available property, even evaluating and then negotiating the purchase of property...
Buying a property
06 Aug 2014

Find a registered building surveyor

The Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 requires that an individual, partnership or company that carries out, or undertakes to carry out, building surveying work as the person issuing a compliance certificate must be a registered building surveying 'contractor' or a building surveying ‘...
Licensing search
09 Jul 2014

Travel

Holidays can be an expensive so it is always a good idea to compare travel packages as well as the cost of individual flights, trips and hotel accommodation before you purchase anything. Buying travel Prices will vary considerably depending on the season in which you are travelling, the standard of...
Travel
01 Jul 2014

Building Act fees

Applications for occupancy permits and building approval certificates Application for an occupancy permit for a completed building (s. 46) The fee is $110.00 Application for a temporary occupancy permit for an incomplete building (s. 47) The fee is $110.00 Application for modification of an...
Building Act fees
01 Jul 2014

Electrical appliance approval marks

What are acceptable approval marks for electrical appliances? Known Certification Marks Type of approval mark Example Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) RCM approval mark.jpg, by Electricity When used in conjunction with AS/NZS 4417.1 and authorised by the certifier Other Markings Q<number> ESO...
Electrical appliances
30 Jun 2014

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Publications

Gas service logbook

READ
Gas Service Logbook for industrial and commercial gas installations, not subject to a “Gasfitting Authorisation”.
Building and Energy
Information
19 Jul 2019

Property manager fined after falling victim to a holiday accommodation scam (Vicki Redfern): Real estate bulletin issue 166 (December 2017)

21 December 2017 Property manager fined after falling victim to a holiday accommodation scam (Vicki Redfern) A property manager has been reprimanded and fined $2,500 by the State Administrative...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
21 Dec 2017

Pool safety and your rental property: Landlord bulletin issue 16 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 As summer approaches it’s time to check that the pool or spa at your rental property conforms to safety requirements. The pool or spa must have appropriate safety barriers according...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
28 Nov 2017

Renewed warning after another loss from WA property sale scam: Settlement agents bulletin issue 75 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 Another loss from a cyber-attack that intercepted a property sale transaction has triggered Consumer Protection to issue a renewed warning to buyers, sellers, tenants and agents in...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
23 Jan 2018

Renewed warning after another loss from WA property sale scam: Real estate bulletin issue number 162 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 Another loss from a cyber-attack that intercepted a property sale transaction has triggered Consumer Protection to issue a renewed warning to buyers, sellers, tenants and agents in...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
28 Nov 2017

False billing and unsolicited invoices fact sheet

READ
Consumer Protection has had a number of recent reports from sporting associations that have received an unsolicited invoice for payment for services that they have not ordered. Busy small businesses...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
04 Dec 2023

Australian Consumer Law - Refunds and returns

READ
Refunds and returns sign sample We are not required to provide a refund or replacement if you change your mind. But you can choose a refund or exchange if an item has a major problem. This is when...
Consumer Protection
Flyers
07 Nov 2017

The Australian Consumer Law and your safety

READ
You are entitled to expect safe goods and services From 1 January 2011, every Australian consumer will be protected in the same way under the Australian Consumer Law from unsafe consumer products and...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
02 Nov 2017

Supplementary report – Perth Children’s Hospital audit: fire walls

READ
An audit of contractor and product performance in the construction of fire walls at the new Perth Children’s Hospital.
Building and Energy
Reports
23 Oct 2017

Final Report 2016 - 2017

READ
The department's final annual report for 2016-2017 presents information on its statutory compliance, financial, non-financial and operational performance, in accordance with the requirements of the...
Corporate
Reports
16 Oct 2017

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Announcements

Major penalty for multiple building offences – The Carport Co Pty Ltd and Alan Benjamin Dickson

Almost $250,000 in fines, compensation and costs No builder registration for carport work in Cottesloe and Mount Pleasant Ignored official orders to rectify work in Alexander Heights and Mount Hawthorn A Perth tradesman and his company have been ordered to pay almost $250,000 in fines, compensation and costs after four property owners were left with unauthorised, defective or incomplete building...
Building and Energy
Media release
05 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 5 July 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 30 cents per litre (cpl) to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Jul 2023

Commerce Minister media statement – Benefits to flow from plumbing reforms

Media statement from Hon Sue Ellery BA MLC, Minister for Commerce Expanded regulation of plumbing work to reduce risks to public health, safety and the environment Amended plumbing legislation will ensure adequate protections across Western Australia, including unmetered water supplies in regional areas Additional plumbing inspectors to enforce plumbing laws The State Government is ensuring all...
Building and Energy
Media release
30 Jun 2023

Button battery laws one year on are keeping children safe

43 per cent of button battery products inspected failed to meet product safety standards 19 Infringement Notices issued in WA Button battery emergency department presentations have halved in last two years 43 per cent of inspected products containing button batteries failed to meet product safety standards in Western Australia since mandatory button battery laws came into effect last year. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
29 Jun 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Avoid tax-time scams

Ongoing cost of living pressures mean many Western Australians will be looking forward to receiving tax refunds, but the end of a financial year is also a time when scammers emerge with false promises of monetary windfalls. In a sign scammers are once again ramping up their tax-time efforts, our WA ScamNet team has received reports of a phishing email claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Jun 2023

Guidance following Flexible Homes’ liquidation

Building and Energy is advising property owners affected by the liquidation of Flexible Homes Pty Ltd to contact their home indemnity insurance (HII) provider, QBE Insurance. The Perth building company appointed liquidators yesterday (27 June 2023). Building and Energy understands Flexible Homes was directly contracted for 19 building projects. Building and Energy Executive Director Saj...
Building and Energy
Media release
28 Jun 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 28 June 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 28 cents per litre (...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Jun 2023

Pool fibreglass repairer fined for leaving owners out of pocket (Marcello “Marc” Maddaloni)

$8,000 fine for taking deposits and not completing pool repair work Three consumers paid deposits totalling $6,050 Public urged to only pay small deposits or make progress payments to reduce risk A swimming pool fibreglass repairer has been fined by the Perth Magistrates Court for breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by taking deposits from three consumers and failing to supply goods and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Jun 2023

Electrician leaves live wires at new home – Aiden Dunstan

Exposed wiring in lounge room energised at a lethal voltage Electrician completed and signed a checklist for the electrical work $3,500 fine and almost $1,200 costs after prosecution by Building and Energy A Joondalup magistrate has condemned the “egregious error” of an electrician who missed hazardous exposed wires while checking work at a Two Rocks home. At Joondalup Magistrates Court on 9 June...
Building and Energy
Media release
27 Jun 2023

Scammers steal over $300,000 from real estate agent trust account

Real estate agent lost $329,500 to remote access bank scam Scammers posed as bank on phone and knew latest transactions in the account Agents urged to not give out access codes or allow remote access Consumer Protection is warning the real estate and settlement industries to be extra vigilant to calls from their bank after scammers successfully stole $329,500 from a WA real estate agent’s trust...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Jun 2023

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