Residents at risk of electric shock Live unterminated 240-volt wires left exposed in the bathroom and laundry Guilty plea entered and spent conviction granted An electrician has been fined $4,000 after leaving several live cables exposed at an East Perth home, putting residents at risk of electric shock. The man, who holds electrical worker and electrical contractor licences, pleaded guilty at...

As WA’s rental market tightens and living costs rise, more renters may be considering taking on a house-mate to relieve some of the pressure. Before heading into a shared tenancy, it is important for everyone to understand the arrangement they have signed up to, as the law applies differently depending on whether it’s a co-tenancy or a rooming arrangement, and also if you are sub-letting. In co-...

PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD – MEDIA STATEMENT A Lesmurdie landlord has been fined $2,000 after admitting to connecting a new water supply at a rental property without holding the required plumber’s licence. Following a prosecution by the Plumbers Licensing Board, Nigel David Barnard pleaded guilty at Midland Magistrates Court to breaching WA’s Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations...

Toys and novelty items dangerous to young children found to be on sale Discovery follows product safety inspections during the Royal Show Infringement notices to be issued to stallholders and suppliers Several stallholders and their suppliers will be issued with infringement notices of up to $6,600 by Consumer Protection after product safety inspectors found numerous unsafe toys and novelty items...

A motor vehicle might have many owners over its lifetime, so one of the most important things you can do when buying a used car is to thoroughly investigate its history. Unlike ‘statutory’ write-offs which can only be used for spare parts, it is legal for ‘repairable’ write-offs to be registered and sold in Western Australia, so long as these vehicles have passed a safety inspection. Even though...

Two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheets are now available. The new FAQs cover digital identity and the WA Relationship Authorisation Manager (WARAM). The My Account FAQ has also been updated. The FAQs provide answers to common questions such as: What is a digital identity and why we need to protect it? What is the WARAM and how can it benefit our customers and their business ? Both new...

Dates and locations have been announced for public consultation on the WorkSafe Commissioner’s Inquiry into safety in the agriculture industry. WorkSafe Commissioner Darren Kavanagh announced the Inquiry in June following the 12 th death in 12 months in the agriculture industry, and appointed an Independent Inquirer, Pam Scott, to undertake the Inquiry. Ms Scott will visit four regional centres...

It may be a familiar scenario for some shoppers – you spot an advert for a product at a very attractive sale price and place an order, but it’s later cancelled by the retailer claiming the item is ‘out-of-stock.’ Consumers may be left wondering whether the business is obliged to honour the discounted price, regardless of whether the item had genuinely sold-out or if a mistake had been made during...

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 21 September 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 25 cents per litre (cpl) to 177.5 cpl. Puma/Caltex hiking by up to 50 cpl up to 195.9 cpl; Coles Express, 7-Eleven, Ampol, Caltex Woolworths/...

Consumer Protection has approved an application by the Motor Trade Association of WA to allow WA motor vehicle dealers south of the 26th parallel to trade from 11am to 5pm on the newly proclaimed public holiday on Thursday 22 September 2022. Normally dealers would be required to close on a public holiday in accordance with the Retail Trading Hours Act. The granting of a permit is in line with the...

As one of the world’s sunniest landscapes, Western Australia is home to a booming rooftop solar industry that shows little sign of slowing down as many households look to address rising power bills and reduce pollution. More than 400,000 WA homes and businesses, or around 36 per cent of customers, are estimated to have rooftop solar connected to WA's main grid, with that figure predicted to swell...

On the National Day of Mourning on Thursday, 22 September 2022 a special public holiday will be held in Western Australia. Wageline has published information on employment entitlements for state system employees on the National Day of Mourning public holiday page. Employers and employees covered by national fair work industrial relations system, including employees covered by national modern...