Announcements

Showing 576 - 600 of 1577 results

Retirement village law reform to make village life fairer and easier

Retirement village law reform to make village life fairer and easierGovernment proposes wide-ranging reforms to retirement village laws in WA Law changes will make retirement village living fairer and easier for seniors A 12-month limit to the payment of exit entitlements will be introduced A revamp of laws regulating retirement villages in Western Australia is planned with the McGowan Government...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Aug 2022

Family violence, child safety, funeral insurance in awards spotlight

Winners of 2022 WA Consumer Protection Awards announced The awards recognise individuals and groups whose work advances protecting consumer rights in the community A tenancy advocate and financial counsellor, a domestic violence support group, a child safety program and media stories about funeral insurance were the winners of the 2022 Consumer Protection Awards. The winners were announced during...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Aug 2022

Commerce Minister statement – Security of payment laws reinforce subcontractor protections

Media statement from Commerce Minister – Hon Roger Cook BA GradDipBus MBA MLA Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 commences today First of a three-stage reform package to improve protections for subcontractors Industry education and resources to help with transition to new contract laws The McGowan Government is delivering on its election commitment to strengthen...
Building and Energy
Media release
01 Aug 2022

Plumbing court case taps into risks of unlicensed work – Stewart Newby

PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD – MEDIA STATEMENT Western Australia’s plumbing regulator is reminding consumers that plumbing work on water supply, sanitation and drainage must be carried out by licensed plumbers. The Plumbers Licensing Board has warned that incorrect or uncertified plumbing work can cause property damage and compromise public health and safety. The warning was issued by the Board...
Building and Energy
Media release
28 Jul 2022

Fines for failing to lodge tenancy bonds and trust account violations (Graeme Garwood / Harcourts Rockingham / Sand Dollar WA Pty Ltd)

Rockingham real estate agency and licensee fined a total of $23,000 Inaccuracies in trust account records and tenancy bonds lodged too late Warning to agents to ensure trust account accuracy and timely bond lodgements A Rockingham real estate agency and its licensee have been fined a total of $23,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for failing to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Jul 2022

Commissioner's Blog: How rising rent may impact your bond

As rents continue rising across Western Australia, many tenants are finding that in addition to paying more money to live in their home each week, there is an extra expense they need to consider. After rent is increased at a property, a landlord or property manager is entitled to ask the tenant to pay extra money towards their security bond. Known as a ‘bond top-up’, the amount of money requested...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Jul 2022

SAT penalty for Fremantle builder – Craig Dickson Bailey

Several areas of renovation work deviated from building permit approved plans Balustrade safety barrier not installed, creating a fall risk Penalty includes $5,000 fine and compulsory construction management course A Fremantle builder has been fined $5,000 and ordered to do additional training after carrying out unauthorised home building work and failing to install a verandah safety barrier. The...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 Jul 2022

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. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 27 July 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 23 cents per litre (cpl) to 186.5 cpl. Ampol, Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking by up to 44 cpl up to 199.9 cpl; 7-Eleven up to 195...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Jul 2022

New video: Building supply chain delays

Further to the Government’s commitment to ensure consumers have resources to navigate the challenges in the building industry right now, Building and Energy has produced a short video as part of its education campaign. The video helps to explain the reasons for the current market conditions and what protections are in place to help. Watch the video here Other information available includes: A...
Building and Energy
Department News
25 Jul 2022

Cargo services company fined $110,000 over serious injury to worker

A ground and air cargo services company has been fined $110,000 (and ordered to pay $8000 in costs) over an incident in which a baggage handler was seriously injured when he fell from a moving baggage tug at Perth Airport. Swissport Australia Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious injury to a worker, and was fined in the...
WorkSafe
Media release
22 Jul 2022

Dog breeder failing to provide refunds after non-delivery of puppies (Cassandra “Cassie” Warren)

Puppies not delivered on agreed dates and deposits not returned Seven WA consumers still waiting for their money back after cancelling orders Consumers urged to buy existing puppies and not rely on breeding programs A consumer alert has been issued relating to the failure of a dog breeder to deliver within an agreed time and provide refunds requested by numerous customers. Consumer Protection has...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Jul 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Watch out for rogue removalists

Moving house is widely considered to be one of life’s most stressful events, so we always urge consumers to choose their removalist carefully to avoid any extra drama on the day. Consumer Protection has recently received a growing number of complaints about the conduct of removalists advertising on social media. Initially the trader quotes an hourly rate and requests a small deposit, however upon...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Jul 2022

Work health and safety: Translated information

The department has released a series of translated information on the WHS laws to assist vulnerable worker groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. These information sheets are based on the WHS interpretative guidelines, the information sheets contain simplified wording providing people with guidance on the key concepts they need to understand, with hyperlinks...
WorkSafe
Department News
20 Jul 2022

Nearly $800,000 in underpayments recovered for WA employees in 2021/22

In the 2021/22 financial year, Private Sector Labour Relations industrial inspectors recovered $797,977 in unpaid wages and leave entitlements for employees covered by state employment laws. A total of 216 complaints lodged with Private Sector Labour Relations resulted in $514,693 being recovered for employees, with a further $197,367 recovered through ongoing proactive compliance campaigns in...
Labour Relations
Department News
20 Jul 2022

Fine for sub-standard land valuations of four WA properties (Graeme MacEwan)

Land valuer fined $4,000 for failing to meet accepted industry standards Inaccurate valuations have implications for buyers, sellers and tax purposes Maintaining standards is vital in upholding community confidence in the industry An Applecross land valuer has been reprimanded and fined $4,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal for failing to maintain basic industry standards when preparing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Jul 2022

Surge in investment crypto scams driving losses towards record levels

Investment, particularly cryptocurrency, scams make up almost half of losses in 2022 $4.1 million dollars were conned out of 71 WA investors so far this year Potential investors urged to first seek professional advice from a licensed advisor Investment scams mostly involving cryptocurrencies are driving a surge in losses reported by WA victims to record levels in 2022. These scams now represent...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Jul 2022

Commerce Minister statement – Western Australia steps closer to registration of building engineers

Media statement from Commerce Minister – Hon Roger Cook BA GradDipBus MBA MLA Boost for safety, confidence and consumer protection as McGowan Government approves preparation for new regulations to register building engineers Western Australia's first ever engineer registration scheme Part of suite of reforms to modernise and improve WA's building regulatory framework The McGowan Government has...
Building and Energy
Media release
18 Jul 2022

New codes of practice released

The Minister for Industrial Relations has approved a series of Work Health and Safety codes of practice which came into effect today. These codes have been adapted for Western Australian work health and safety environments from the Model codes of practice published by Safe Work Australia, developed through consultation with unions and employer organisations. Dr Patricia Todd, Chair of the Work...
WorkSafe
Department News
15 Jul 2022

Builder fined for non-compliant fence, patio and pool project – Oakwood Grove Pty Ltd trading as Manray Corporate Services

Home owners left with defective, incomplete and unauthorised building work No nominated supervisor or building permits for some of the work $3,000 fine for breaches of WA’s builder registration laws The Building Services Board has fined a Success building company $3,000 for carrying out unauthorised, defective and inadequately supervised work during an outdoor renovation project in Stirling. The...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Jul 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Safe sleep for babies

Babies can spend up to 17 hours a day sleeping, so it’s vital to ensure the place where they spend all this time resting is as safe as possible. As the range of infant sleeping products available in the Australian market continues to grow, leading medical and injury prevention experts, industry and regulators have developed a new best practice guide for the design of safe infant sleeping...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Jul 2022

Two prospective tenants lose thousands to Perth rental scam

The two rental applicants received fake emails saying they were successful Payments to secure the property were sent to the scammers’ bank account Potential tenants are left out of pocket and without rental accommodation Two people searching for a rental have lost a total of $23,500 after scammers appeared to have hacked into a Perth western suburbs’ real estate agency’s email account. Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jul 2022

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. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 13 July 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 209.7 cpl. 7-Eleven hiking by up to 38 cpl up to 225.9 cpl; Coles Express and Ampol up to 219.9 cpl; BP up to 217...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jul 2022

Perth family shares safety warning after girl’s electric shock injuries

10-year-old received an electric shock while trying to fix a 240-volt tower fan Serious burns to both hands required skin grafts and ongoing treatment Discuss electrical safety with children and do not use damaged appliances A Perth mother and daughter are encouraging families to talk about electrical hazards after the 10-year-old received an electric shock and serious hand burns from a broken...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Jul 2022

Commissioner's Blog: The waiting game – your rights when parcels fail to arrive

Online shopping has revolutionised the way many of us buy goods, but it has also meant navigating additional challenges not faced by traditional in-store shoppers. Given online purchasers are required to pay for their items upfront before waiting to receive them, a common complaint we hear about is goods taking a long time to arrive, or perhaps never arriving at all. We recently raised the alarm...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Jul 2022

Advice for airline passengers affected by flight cancellations/delays

Affected passengers are entitled to a refund if replacement flight not acceptable Compensation can be claimed for alternative bookings in some circumstances 193 travel complaints lodged with Consumer Protection so far this year Consumer Protection is reminding WA consumers about their rights when impacted by the current wave of domestic and international flight cancellations or long delays. So...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Jul 2022

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