Consumer

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Six ways to be a smart shopper

Before you buy something, do your research and make sure you are getting the best disability good or service for your needs. This is particularly important if you are buying something that you will use for a long time or something worth a lot of money. Here are some tips to help you make an...
People with disability
13 Dec 2016

Food labelling for consumers

WATCH
Consumers can now identify how much of the food they are buying is sourced or made in Australia with the country of origin labelling system. There are two key features to look for a: kangaroo logo - which means the food is made or grown in Australia bar chart and description - which shows what...
Food
22 Nov 2016

Credit card chargeback

A chargeback is the reversal of a disputed transaction back to your credit card account. Chargebacks are only available on credit cards or if you use the ‘credit’ option on a debit or travel card. It is NOT available when you pay with cash, eftpos, BPAY, direct debit, money transfer or cheque...
Refunds and returns
08 Nov 2016

Improving the interaction between residential tenancy laws and family violence restraining orders

Introduction Tenancy laws in WA are under review as part of the Government’s family violence reform plan and community feedback is now invited. The purpose of this options paper is to seek stakeholder feedback into preferred drafting options to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 so that...
Consultations and reports
26 Oct 2016

Western Australian Products Symbol Act 1972

WATCH
The Western Australian Products Symbol Act 1972 (the Act) authorises the use of the WA Birthmark symbol (a prescribed symbol) to distinguish and promote the sale of products made in Western Australia. A person who sells any product, the production and preparation of which is substantially carried...
Information standards
26 Oct 2016

Music festivals and outdoor events

Music festivals are high-risk business ventures, susceptible to major changes or cancellations due to a unique set of planning challenges, such as inclement weather, natural disasters, venue suitability, and artist availability. When things go wrong and a festival is cancelled or does not match the...
Your consumer rights
20 Oct 2016

Button batteries

Every week, around 20 Australian children present to an emergency department following exposure to button batteries, including ingestions and insertions. Keep products with button batteries out of sight and out of reach of small children. Button batteries are found in many common household products...
Product safety for consumers
20 Sep 2016

Boarders and lodgers review

Consumer Protection is seeking community feedback about whether new laws should be introduced to regulate boarding and lodging in WA. Status: CLOSED , Friday 30 June 2017 Background Boarders and lodgers are currently not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act , although boarding premises...
Consultations and reports
15 Sep 2016

Ladder safety matters

In one year in Australia, 1668 people aged 65 years and over were hospitalised because they fell from a ladder. Sixty-two per cent of those injuries occurred in or around their home. Ladder related injuries among men aged 65 years and older is steadily increasing in Australia. The national...
Product safety for consumers
09 Sep 2016

Helpful contacts for people with disability

Consumer Protection advice line Consumer Protection's Advice Line provides “on-the-spot” information, advice and assistance about scams and general issues in the marketplace, particularly consumer and trader rights and responsibilities. Phone: 1300 304 054 email WA ScamNet The National Disability...
People with disability
18 Aug 2016

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Publications

Home safety for baby takeway tips

READ
To keep your baby safe, please follow our tips.
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
22 Sep 2017

General Inspection Report Two: A general inspection into Yuanda-supplied products in the Western Australian building industry

READ
A general inspection into the use of Yuanda products in Western Australian buildings.
Building Commission
Reports
31 Aug 2017

Charitable collections income and expenditure statement

READ
All charities licensed in Western Australia must submit an Income and Expenditure Statement to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection in Western Australia annually. When to use this form All...
Consumer Protection
Form – notification
06 Oct 2017

Building Commission Industry Bulletin 87 – Yellowing of alkyd enamel paints

READ
Building Commission
Bulletin
14 Jul 2017

A guide to conciliation proceedings

READ
Conciliation is a process whereby parties, with the help of a conciliator, meet to identify issues, develop solutions to the problem and explore ways to reach an agreement. This publication is a...
Building Commission
Information
12 Jul 2017

Building Commission Industry Bulletin 86 - Smoke alarms installed in additions or alterations to existing dwellings

READ
This Industry Bulletin outlines interconnection requirements for mains-powered smoke alarms installed as part of new building work, such as an addition or alteration, to existing dwellings. This...
Building Commission
Bulletin
12 May 2017

Spontaneous ceiling collapse

READ
The following is a guide for home owners who may have concerns about the stability of the plasterboard ceilings within their home.
Building Commission
Fact sheet
11 May 2017

Changes to residential smoke alarm standard: Landlord bulletin issue 4 (April 2017)

28 April 2017 A new Australian Standard applies from 1 May 2017 to new installations of smoke alarms in residential dwellings. Importantly, this includes new smoke alarms installed in dwellings...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
03 May 2017

Changes to residential smoke alarm standard - Real estate bulletin issue 142 (April 2017)

28 April 2017 A new Australian Standard applies from 1 May 2017 to new installations of smoke alarms in residential dwellings. Importantly, this includes new smoke alarms installed in dwellings...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
18 May 2017

Summary of final report - Perth Children's Hospital audit

READ
The Building Commission has released a final audit report on some compliance and conformance issues that arose during the construction of the new Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) at the QEII Medical...
Building Commission
Fact sheet
24 Apr 2017

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Announcements

Landscaper to pay $22,114 in fines and compensation for consumers (Trent Caines / TDC Landscaping)

A landscaper who took large deposits from consumers but failed to supply materials or complete the work has been fined $4,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a total of $18,114 in consumer compensation. Trent Danny Caines , trading as TDC Landscaping formerly of Ellenbrook, was also ordered to pay costs of $957 when he pleaded guilty to eight charges of wrongly accepting payment...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Mar 2018

Late bond lodgements result in $8,000 fine for real estate agency (Verse Property Group)

An East Victoria Park real estate agency has been fined $8,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for the late lodgement of tenancy bonds to the Bond Administrator. Verse (Aust) Pty Ltd , trading as Verse Property Group , was also ordered to pay $505 in costs after pleading guilty on 2 March 2018 to charges of breaching the Residential Tenancies Act by failing to lodge eight bonds amounting to $12,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Mar 2018

Commissioner's Blog: Upselling could land plumbers in hot water

Update (26 March 2018): In response to enquiries from plumbers, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page has been published. With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Plumbers could find themselves in hot water if they go to a home to carry out one job but end up taking payment for more than they were called out for. A 10 business day cooling-off period applies to any approach from...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Mar 2018

Tradie fined for not completing contracted work (Adam Lodge / Southwestern Roofing and Building Maintenance)

A tradie who accepted payment but failed to complete the work has been fined $7,500 by the Fremantle Magistrates Court and ordered to pay compensation of $6,600 to three clients. Adam Lodge, trading as Southwestern Roofing and Building Maintenance, was also ordered to pay costs of $1,000 after pleading guilty to three charges of failing to supply all services within a reasonable time. The charges...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Mar 2018

30 month ban for real estate sales rep over unfair and dishonest conduct (Olivia Murray)

A real estate sales representative who purported to work for a Wanneroo real estate agency after her employment had been terminated has been disqualified from applying for registration for two and a half years by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). Olivia Loretta Anne Murray was also ordered to pay costs of $4,000 after Consumer Protection took disciplinary action against her for breaching...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Mar 2018

Perth man loses $200,000 to card game gambling scam in Bali

Tourists visiting Bali are being warned by Consumer Protection not to get involved in a card game gambling scam after a Perth man lost $200,000 to a gang of fraudsters. The 66 year old man from Baldivis got involved in the scam in October last year and lost the money over a three month period after also travelling to Johor in Malaysia and Manila in the Philippines. The scam began when the man was...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Mar 2018

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 145.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 6 March 2018, most BP, Caltex, Caltex Woolworths, Coles Express and Puma sites are increasing their ULP price to 149.9 cpl (increasing between 23 cpl and 27 cpl). Also, most 7-...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Mar 2018

Perth metro retail trading hours extended for Labour Day and Easter Monday

The State Government has approved an additional four hours of trading for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area on Labour Day and Easter Monday. Shops will be able to trade from 8am until 6pm on Monday, 5 March 2018 (Labour Day) and Monday, 2 April 2018 (Easter Monday). Trading during this extended period is discretionary for metropolitan area retailers. The Retail Trading Hours (...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Mar 2018

Solar panel dealer fined and ordered to pay compensation (M.D Shafiqur Rahman)

A solar panel dealer has been fined $3,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court and ordered to pay compensation of $7,500 for breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). M.D Shafiqur Rahman of Kewdale was also ordered to pay costs of $1,500 on 16 February after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to unsolicited agreements while working as a dealer for One Stop Solar Energy. The offences relate to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Mar 2018

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 145.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 27 February 2018, most 7-Eleven, Caltex Woolworths, BP, Puma and Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 149.9 cpl (an increase between 23 cpl and 25 cpl). Also, all Coles...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Feb 2018

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