Consumer

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Nominating for a Consumer Protection Award The frequently asked questions below provide some helpful information about the Consumer Protection Awards such as the essential entry requirements, how to apply for an award and the judging process. When do nominations open and close? Nominations open and...
Consumer Protection Awards
It’s your choice You have the right to decide who tows your car and where it is towed – you don’t have to choose the first tow truck that arrives at the scene after an accident or breakdown. You can choose to have your car towed directly to a repairer, your home, or a storage yard. If possible,...
Servicing, repair and towing
Western Australian electrical safety regulations require all lighting points to have earth protection using a conductor connected to the main earth of the building’s electrical installation. The earthing conductor must be connected to a suitably robust earthing terminal of the lighting point (...
Electrical installations
A national safety alert has been issued for several open-flued gas heaters that, under certain circumstances, may produce too much carbon monoxide – potentially causing serious health risks to users. Building and Energy is urging owners of these gas heaters to stop using them immediately. The...
Gas appliances
Stay safe and warm this winter
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Tickticktick2, by sgrove
You can’t see it or smell it. But while your gas heater is running, poisonous carbon monoxide could be spilling into your home. Unserviced gas heaters can spill carbon monoxide (CO) – a gas that you can’t see or smell but can make...
Gas appliances
Safety advice for using open flued gas space heaters Negative pressure can occur when there is not enough ventilation in a home and an exhaust fan or range hood is operating. If an open flued gas space heater is operating at the same time as an exhaust fan, it may cause the gas heater to...
Gas appliances
Building and Energy encourages Western Australians to take simple steps to protect themselves against home fires as more people purchase and use equipment and devices with lithium-ion batteries. The following information will help consumers avoid the fire risk while enjoying the undoubted...
Electrical appliances
Restaurants and cafes that charge a surcharge on certain days do not need to provide a separate menu. However, the menu or pricing display must include wording that ‘a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]’ . This statement must be displayed in a transparent and prominent...
Store policies and sale practices
Quad bikes have a number of design features that create risks for users, particularly when used on uneven or sloped ground. Losing control of a quad bike can cause it to flip or roll over causing death or serious injury. About quad bikes A quad bike (also known as an all-terrain vehicle or ATV) is...
Product safety for consumers
Consumer Protection has a number of policies which articulate the principles that underpin our work. These policies guide our approach to promoting fair trading and consumer protection, whether we are providing information and advice, helping consumers resolve disputes or investigating complaints...
About us

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Publications

If you sign a contract to buy a car and need to cancel the agreement, as of 1 January 2022 the maximum amount a motor vehicle dealer may charge is up to five per cent of the total purchase price...
Consumer Protection
Flyers
02 Feb 2022
Button batteries can be a deadly hazard. If swallowed, button batteries can cause internal burns, severe bleeding and even death.
Button battery flyer header
Button battery flyer header , by Consumer Protection
What to do if a battery is...
Consumer Protection
Flyers
27 Mar 2023
Building and Energy undertook a snapshot general inspection into waterproofing systems in wet areas in. The outcome of this is presented in GIR6. The objective of GIR6 was to determine if...
Building and Energy
Reports
13 Dec 2021
Operators and residents of residential parks and lifestyle villages Changes are on the way! From 31 January 2022, changes to the Residential Parks legislation take place. This will affect your...
Consumer Protection
Brochure
10 Dec 2021
Progress report on local government’s four yearly inspections of private swimming pool safety barriers 2020-21. This Report is the third annual report on the progress of local governments’ pool inspection programs and is in response to recommendation 7 of the Ombudsman WA report Investigation into ways to prevent or reduce deaths of children by drowning , tabled in Parliament on 23 November 2017.
Building and Energy
Reports
02 Dec 2021
As part of its function, Building and Energy provides an avenue for both consumers and builders to resolve disputes relating to workmanship issues in connection with a regulated building services and...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 Oct 2021
This guide to your rights when shopping answers many common consumer questions and explains your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). What if a supermarket scanner charges me too much?...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024
Misleading behaviour Misleading or deceptive behaviour is when a shop owner or trader presents an incorrect view about the price, value or quality of goods or services to you. A shop owner can break...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024
Estimates and quotes are different ways of putting a price on a job or service before the job is done. What is a quote? A quote is the total amount a tradesperson agrees it will cost to do a job or...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024
When buying expensive goods, including fridges, washing machines and televisions, there are many options available to help you make these purchases. Saving If you know you’re going to have to come up...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

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Announcements

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 27 December 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 34 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Dec 2023
Western Power was today fined $80,000 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure network safety in relation to the Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire in February 2022. Perth Magistrates Court heard the bushfire on 6 February 2022 started when Western Power’s high-voltage overhead electricity conductors clashed between two power poles in Wardering. The resulting sparks ignited grass stubble and the fire...
Building and Energy
Media release
22 Dec 2023
Former building contractor Lordz Pty Ltd (BC100934; cancelled) and its director Peter Lord have been fined for undertaking building services while unregistered. There was no appearance by Mr Lord or the company at Midland Magistrate Court on 11 December 2023 following prosecution by Building and Energy. They were convicted in their absence of two offences under the Building Services (Registration...
Building and Energy
Media release
22 Dec 2023
Explosion and injury risks from the use of LP gas adaptors Adaptors override the improved safety of LCC27 valves Ensure the safe connection of LP gas cylinders and appliances The State’s energy safety regulator is warning against the use of valve connectors (adaptors) following a recent incident resulting in serious injury. A Perth home owner recently received severe burns while using a barbecue...
Building and Energy
Media release
22 Dec 2023
It's that time of the year when many kids are counting down to Christmas! It’s also the time our Consumer Protection safety inspectors are out and about making sure toys are safe for Santa’s sack. Button batteries, which power many kids’ novelty toys, remain a deadly risk to small children if they swallow these tiny circular batteries. Our safety inspectors have already visited 58 stores and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Dec 2023
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 20 December 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 33 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Dec 2023
A Perth electrician has lost his electrical licences following a criminal conviction for indecent acts while working at a customer’s home. The man’s electrical worker and electrical contractor licences were cancelled by the State Administrative Tribunal after referral by Building and Energy. The Tribunal heard that the electrician was convicted of two indecent dealing offences involving a 13-year...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Dec 2023
Failure to fix a defective driveway has cost a Rockingham concrete business and its directors $16,000 in fines, following prosecution by WA’s building regulator. Building and Energy’s case against Decorative Concrete Specialists Pty Ltd and directors Gerard Zomer and Paula Seager concluded at Rockingham Magistrates Court. The company and Mr Zomer did not appear and were convicted in their absence...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Dec 2023
As the festive season unfolds, the spirit of giving comes alive, prompting many of us to extend a helping hand to our community through charitable donations. Before opening your wallet to support a cause close to your heart, it’s important to watch out for scams and ask questions to find out if your full donation will be passed on. Scammers may pose as a real charity or a cause that appeals to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Dec 2023
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 13 December 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 35 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Dec 2023

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