Consumer

Topics

House, pet or baby sitting services

Under the Australian Consumer Law, a business that provides a house sitting, pet sitting, baby sitting or cleaning service must meet service guarantees. How to protect yourself To reduce the chance of problems, consider doing the following: Contact several agencies before making a decision to get...
Services
29 Jan 2019

Travel information and checklist

When you book travel, tours, tickets and a ccommodation in Western Australia, you have consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The following links provide important tips and information for visitors to Western Australia about: shopping; renting a hire car; buying a car; booking...
Travel
06 Dec 2018

Pressure cookers

WATCH
Pressure cookers have been around for a long time. Many of us are familiar with stories of ‘exploding’ cookers where boiling sauce has shot all over the walls and ceiling – or even worse - over an unsuspecting cook in the kitchen. Today’s pressure cookers have multiple safety features, including...
Product safety for consumers
08 Nov 2018

Consumer issues impacting Indigenous people 2018

National consultation on consumer issues impacting Indigenous people Status: Closed, 4 December 2018 The National Indigenous Consumer Strategy (NICS) reference group is seeking to better understand consumer protection issues affecting Indigenous people in Australia. The survey covers key priority...
Consultations
07 Nov 2018

Having gasfitting work done?

Having gasfitting work done? Make sure you use a licensed gas fitter whenever you have gasfitting work done. Having gasfitting work done publication The brochure contains information when you have gasfitting work done other than servicing. Information includes: ensuring you use a licensed gas...
Gas installations
24 Oct 2018

LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas

LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas Guidelines on the storage of LP Gas cylinders on properties in bush fire prone areas. LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas brochure The guidelines aim to help residents reduce the risks associated with LP Gas cylinders should a fire...
Gas installations
24 Oct 2018

Use of gas appliances in public venues

Safe use of gas appliances in public venues This publication will assist event/venue organises and catering vendors to comply with the safety requirements. Guidelines for the safe use of gas appliances in public venues brochure Public venues include convention and exhibition centres, pavilions,...
Gas appliances
23 Oct 2018

Swimming pools and spas: electrical bonding

The risk Most pools and spas are fitted with water circulating pumps and cleaning equipment powered by electric motors. Faults can occur in these motors or in the motor’s electrical wiring. This can expose bathers to the risk of electric shock. Signs of electric shock include a tingling sensation,...
Electrical installations
28 Aug 2018

GST withholding: what you need to know: Settlement Industry Bulletin Issue 81

August 2018 Changes have been applied by the Federal Government from 1 July 2018, regarding the liability for the goods and services tax (GST). Purchasers of new residential premises and new residential subdivisions, where the transaction is a taxable supply, are now required to withhold the GST...
Buying a property
22 Aug 2018

Real estate consumer publications

Information for real estate consumers Consumer Protection have developed a number of publications to assist consumers with real estate transactions. Home buyers Home Buyers Survival Guide Sale by offer and acceptance Buying vacant land Buying land or property off-the-plan Timber pest inspections...
Buying a property
10 Aug 2018

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Publications

Industry Bulletin 122 - FPAA101D Automatic fire sprinkler system design and installation

READ
This industry bulletin has been issued to provide information on new deemed-to-satisfy (DTS) provisions for fire sprinkler systems. The DTS provisions have been included in the 2019 National...
Building and Energy
Bulletin
13 Sep 2019

Better Regulation Unit Auction Sales Act review compliance letter Jan 2019

READ
This compliance letter is provided to Consumer Protection by the Better Regulation Unit (BRU) of the Department of Treasury. The BRU is responsible for assessing Decision Regulatory Impact Statements...
Consumer Protection
Information
17 Sep 2019

Better Regulation Unit motor vehicle industry review compliance letter July 2019

READ
This compliance letter is provided to Consumer Protection by the Better Regulation Unit (BRU) of the Department of Treasury. The BRU is responsible for assessing Decision Regulatory Impact Statements...
Consumer Protection
Information
12 Sep 2019

Decision Regulatory Impact Statement: The Regulation of the Auction Sales Industry in Western Australia (final report) September 2019

READ
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety – Consumer Protection Division (Consumer Protection) recently completed a review of the Auction Sales Act 1973 (the Act). The key purpose of...
Consumer Protection
Discussion paper
16 Sep 2019

Fitness Industry Code of Practice Consultation Report September 2019

READ
New fitness code published The Fair Trading (Fitness Industry Code) Regulations 2020 (WA) (that contain the new Fitness Industry Code) were published on 29 September 2020. This mandatory code comes...
Consumer Protection
Reports
16 Oct 2020

Reforms to the building approval process for single residential buildings in WA – CRIS

READ
Reforms to the building approval process for single residential buildings in Western Australia – Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement seeks comment on three options for reforming the building...
Building and Energy
Consultations / public comment
12 Sep 2019

Decision Regulatory Impact Statement: Review of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 and the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003 (final report) July 2019

READ
Background to the review The Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety recently completed a combined review of legislation regulating motor vehicle dealers and repairers. Cabinet has...
Consumer Protection
Reports
12 Sep 2019

Review of the remote Aboriginal communities plumbing scheme – Consultation paper

READ
As part of the implementation of the remote Aboriginal communities plumbing scheme, a commitment was given that a review of the scheme would be undertaken once it had been in place for at least...
Building and Energy
Consultations / public comment
01 Aug 2019

Changes to the map of bush fire prone areas

READ
The McGowan Government has announced improvements to the bush fire policy framework including changes to the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas for 19 inner metropolitan local governments (from Stirling to...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
31 Jul 2019

Stage two of proposed reforms to retirement villages legislation in Western Australia - Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement 1

READ
Significant changes to the Retirement Villages 1992 Act (RV Act) were put in place prior to 2016 as a result of the stage one review. Many of these changes focused on providing the consumer with more...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
01 Aug 2019

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Announcements

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by 29 cents per litre (cpl) to 133.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 2 September 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking by 41-43 cpl up to 145.9 cpl; BP up to 144...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Sep 2020

Threatening extortion scams target the Chinese community in WA

Members of Perth’s Chinese community have lost more than $175,000 so far this year to phone scams after they were threatened with arrest or deportation unless they paid fees. There have been 17 reports from people who have been targeted by the scammers this year, with four victims claiming to have lost individual amounts of $30,000; $13,800; $71,500 and $60,000. In the latest case, the victim...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Sep 2020

New rules to keep funds for a future funeral safe

A new mandatory code of practice for Western Australia's prepaid funeral industry has been approved by the McGowan Government that aims to safeguard the estimated $170 million being held to pay for future funerals. The new code, which comes into effect on March 1, 2021, will ensure that the funds will be managed within secure investments under the name of the client until they are required...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Beware the misfortune tellers

Fortune tellers have been gazing into crystal balls for centuries and remain a popular destination for people seeking guidance in their lives today. While many clairvoyants conduct their business with little controversy, in recent months Consumer Protection has become aware that scammers offering ‘psychic’ readings are ramping up efforts to extract money from unsuspecting shoppers at suburban...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Aug 2020

Motor vehicle dealer banned after deceiving owners and business now up for sale (Zeljko Grujin / Xoticar Auction House / PAG (WA) Pty Ltd)

A motor vehicle dealer who sold on consignment has been disqualified from holding a licence for eight years, starting from 19 November 2020, after being convicted of deceiving owners about the sale price and failing to comply with laws relating to consignment sales. The State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) endorsed the Commissioner for Consumer Protection’s view that Mr Zeljko Grujin , the former...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Aug 2020

Electrician’s error leaves house unprotected – Anthony Michael Kiely

A Caversham electrician has been fined $10,300 after he failed to install an essential safety system at a Cloverdale house, which could have resulted in electrocution of the occupants. At Perth Magistrates Court, Anthony Michael Kiely (EW133300, EC10793) was also ordered to pay $535 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching WA’s electricity licensing regulations, following a prosecution by...
Building and Energy
Media release
27 Aug 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 30 cents per litre (cpl) to 134.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 26 August 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex and Coles Express hiking by 41-42 cpl up to 145.9 cpl; Caltex Woolworths...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Aug 2020

STA Travel in administration – advice for affected consumers

Consumer Protection has issued advice for customers who are still owed money by student travel agency STA Travel Pty Ltd which has today gone into external administration. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Consumer Protection has received 27 complaints against STA Travel. 15 consumers received full or partial refunds, 7 received credits and the remaining five were not able...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Should you buy-now, pay-later?

The way we shop may have changed forever following the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Life in lockdown meant cash transactions plummeted in favour of a number of contactless payment methods, including buy-now, pay-later schemes. Often described as the ‘modern-day lay-by’, buy-now, pay-later arrangements allow you to receive goods and then pay off the amount in instalments further down the track...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Aug 2020

Unregistered painter’s brush with the law – Christopher Robert Larden

An Innaloo tradesman has been fined $1,500 and ordered to pay almost $600 in costs after he falsely presented as a registered painter and carried out painting work that requires registration. Christopher Robert Larden did not appear at Armadale Magistrates Court on 4 August 2020 when he was sentenced for breaching WA’s building registration laws, which stipulate that only a registered painting...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Aug 2020

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