Consumer Protection

Tuesday, 7 June 2022

• ServiceWA app upgrades will ensure users have easy access to FuelWatch
• Interactive functionality and map will show fuel prices available near users
• Next addition to ServiceWA app continues journey in redefining the way Western Australians interact with government services

The McGowan Government has updated its ServiceWA app to include FuelWatch, providing an easy to navigate, interactive map allowing users to find the best fuel price deal across Western Australia.

Solar energy storage systems can be an attractive option for households looking to capture and store their own renewable energy.

However, around 450 WA home-owners that have installed several models of LG-branded home energy storage batteries are being urged to check if their device is on a national recall list due to fears they may overheat and ignite.

Friday, 10 June 2022

• Commercial tenancy laws covering retail shops now under review
• Various emerging issues to be canvassed during consultation phase
• Lease rights regarding rents, operating costs and duration of tenancy explored

The laws which govern commercial tenancy agreements between small retailers and landlords, including shopping centre owners, are being reviewed by the McGowan Government with the aim of improving the fairness and transparency of commercial lease arrangements.

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.

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

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.

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.

• McGowan Government providing almost $9 million over two years to tenancy advocates and legal centres across WA
• Funding in 2023-24 State Budget to enable tenants in need of help to access advice, assistance and legal support at little or no cost

Community legal centres across Western Australia will receive a funding boost in the 2023-24 State Budget to provide advice and support to the increased number of residential tenants requiring assistance in the current tight rental market.

When you walk away from a tenancy, an important next step is working out how the security bond paid at the start of the lease will be distributed between tenant and landlord.

Tenants may be relying on getting back the money to help with finding a new place to live, while landlords may need some – or all – of the funds to cover damage or cleaning costs.

Swelling demand for shipping containers is causing Western Australian consumers to be scammed out of their money at a rate of knots.

When items are in high demand yet short in supply, they become easy targets for scammers who know that when people are desperate to buy scarce items, they can forget to ‘practice the pause’ to consider whether they are being swindled.