Consumer Protection

• 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 a presentation lunch at Fraser's Kings Park today.

• 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

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 environments.

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.

Please visit the official NAIDOC Week website to download logos and other resources to help celebrate NAIDOC Week.

Consumer Protection WA celebrates NAIDOC Week 2022

Consumer Protection WA and Ask Us

Keeping warm and safe during the colder months of the year also means being alert to the hazards created by commonly used heating products within the home.

Consumer protection authorities are urging Australians to stay safe this winter by knowing the risks associated with items like hot water bottles, wheat/heat packs, electric blankets and heaters.

Being contacted out of the blue by a business wanting to sell you something is a scenario many consumers will be familiar with. 

Whether it’s a knock at the front door from a salesperson, or unsolicited text messages, phone calls and emails, it may help to know there are strict rules surrounding how businesses are allowed to contact you.

• New licence category proposed for dealers wanting to sell on consignment
• Character test for licence applicants and their associates to be strengthened
• Specific dealer training to focus on laws and practices for consignment sales

Losses incurred by owners when selling their motor vehicles and caravans on consignment have prompted action by the McGowan Government with a new licence category to be established under proposed new laws.

Mother’s Day is on its way, so no matter whether you’re looking for a gift online or in-store, remember that you have the same consumer rights if things go wrong.

The Australian Consumer Law protects you if the gift is faulty, breaks down, doesn’t work as it should or is not what you ordered, and the trader should take steps to help fix the issue.

When it comes time to move on a car or caravan, some people may lack the time or confidence to negotiate a private sale themselves.

Engaging a dealer to sell the vehicle on their behalf can therefore be a viable option, but selling on consignment does come with some risk. 

Given the dealer can keep any money they receive from the sale in excess of the amount they agree to pay the owner, this has at times resulted in dealers giving below reasonable value sale price estimates to vehicle owners.