Consumer Protection

We’ve been hearing an increase in restaurants and cafes adding on a surcharge recently and if you have come across this you should be aware of the rules around surcharges. 

We commonly see surcharges added during public holidays or weekends as restaurants must pay their staff penalty rates so they may choose to pass on these extra costs to you. 

Food businesses are generally allowed to set their own prices, and we understand why they may choose to add a surcharge – staying afloat is tough, but paying a surcharge should never come as a surprise to you.

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. Drivers are also urged to only purchase the fuel they need to fill their vehicles, not to stockpile. 

FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 29 April 2026), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 12 cents per litre (cpl) to 187.6 cpl with Ampol hiking by up to 217.9 cpl; BP up to 215.9 cpl; and EG Ampol up to 209.9 cpl.

Major reforms to the residential tenancy bond release process have come into effect in WA, making it easier for renters to get their bond back. 

Previously, only the landlord or property manager could start the bond release process, but now any tenant, landlord or agent can set things in motion.

This is part of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 and will provide a more streamlined and transparent service for everyone.

• Landscaper fined $2,000 after taking upfront money and failing to complete work
• Took 50 per cent deposits for three jobs, but later claimed insolvency
• Consumers urged to limit upfront payments, use instalments, pay by credit card 

A Perth landscaping operator who took thousands of dollars in deposits but failed to carry out the agreed landscaping, reticulation and turf installation work at three homes has been fined in the Joondalup Magistrates Court.

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. Drivers are also urged to only purchase the fuel they need to fill their vehicles, not to stockpile. 

FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 22 April 2026), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 4.9 cents per litre (cpl) to 193.9 cpl with BP hiking up to 215.9 cpl; and Ampol and EG Ampol up to 209.9 cpl.

It’s not uncommon for people to use AI when they jump online to search for various things these days and while it can be an effective tool in some situations, people do need to be careful when it comes to rules and regulations.  

Consumer Protection has been dealing with a few queries recently where consumers have based their complaints on AI, only for AI to give them wrong information about how the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and other laws apply to their situation.  

• Permanent ban imposed on agent over failures in trust account oversight 
• $715,000 trust account shortfall uncovered in Consumer Protection investigation
• Employee redirected trust funds into her own bank accounts 
• Impacted consumers assisted through the fidelity guarantee account 

A Perth real estate agent has been permanently disqualified and had his licence cancelled after the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) found he failed to prevent the misappropriation of more than $715,000 from his agency’s trust accounts by an employee and co

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. Drivers are also urged to only purchase the fuel they need to fill their vehicles, not to stockpile. 

FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 15 April 2026), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 6 cents per litre (cpl) to 213.9 cpl with Caltex hiking up to 239.9 cpl; BP and 7-Eleven up to 229.9 cpl; EG Ampol up to 219.9 cpl; and Ampol up to 217.9 cpl.

Almost 5,000 incorporated associations in Western Australia are currently behind in lodging one or more annual information statements (AIS) and are at risk of being de-registered. 

Consumer Protection administers incorporated associations, not-for-profit groups set up for many social, sporting or community purposes – for example, a swimming club, a school P&C, a charity or a volunteer group. 

There’s lots of reasons people want to form an association but to remain active, an AIS must be submitted every year at the end of their financial year. 

• Cabinetmaker convicted, ordered to pay over $15,000 in fines and compensation
• Took $6,800 in deposits, failed to complete work and kept a rangehood 
• Advice to avoid large deposits, insist on written quotes and clear timeframes

A Pearsall cabinetmaker has been convicted and ordered to pay $16,327.24 in fines, compensation and costs for taking thousands of dollars in deposits from consumers and failing to carry out the agreed work, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.