The great outdoors is the place to be this summer – and the same goes for portable gas-fuelled appliances such as cookers, heaters, barbecues and fridges.
WA’s gas safety regulator, Building and Energy, is warning that this equipment must never be used inside tents, caravans or other enclosed spaces. Even if the doors or windows are open, you could be exposed to potentially lethal levels of a toxic gas: carbon monoxide.
Have you ever engaged a dealer to sell a car or caravan on your behalf? This is known as ‘consignment selling’ and the laws that regulate this method of sale are currently under review, with a ban being considered as one of the options.
For those who don’t want to negotiate the sale of their vehicle privately, selling on consignment is a viable option but it comes with risk.
The State Government will strengthen regulations for family day care operators to improve child safety at residences with swimming pools, spas or water features.
Our sunny skies have paved the way for a booming solar panel industry in Western Australia, as many households look for ways to cut their power bills while also reducing their carbon footprint.
Rooftop solar has become so popular in fact, it’s estimated that 300,000 WA households already have panels installed, accounting for one-fifth of the electricity produced in our main network.
Even though there’s a lot to love about this renewable, some consumers have come to Consumer Protection with complaints about poor quality parts, companies going broke and pushy sales tactics.
They might look harmless, but in the wrong hands (and mouths) button batteries can become child killers.
Every week in Australia, 20 children present to an emergency department following exposure to button batteries, with one child a month suffering serious injuries.
If swallowed, coin-sized lithium button batteries can lodge in a child’s system and the resulting chemical reaction can cause severe burns to their oesophagus and other internal organs. Likewise the insertion of button batteries into ears and noses can also lead to significant injuries.
Gone are the days where a gym is the only destination available for fitness lovers looking for a structured work-out.
Nowadays, you can find boot-camps in local parks, employ a personal trainer or even stream ‘virtual’ work-out sessions online from the comfort of home.
Whichever exercise method best suits your lifestyle, there’s little doubt Western Australia’s fitness industry has undergone a major revolution in recent years and the legislation is now catching up to provide better consumer protection for all involved.
Are you a consumer champion or do you know one? If so, then I would urge you to consider nominating for the Consumer Protection Awards 2021.
Every day across Western Australia there are many individuals, organisations, businesses and media professionals working tirelessly to advocate for the consumer rights of others, many of whom are considered vulnerable.
These unsung heroes often receive little recognition, which is why the annual Consumer Protection Awards are an important opportunity to highlight their incredible achievements.
With many people experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, one way consumers can save money is by checking and comparing unit prices when grocery shopping.
Unit pricing shows consumers the value of grocery products as a cost per standard unit of measurement on shelf labels.
Large grocery stores and some online grocery retailers must display the unit price when selling packaged food and other grocery products, such as bread, eggs, fruit and vegetables and toilet paper.
There’s a lot to weigh-up when hunting for a rental home, such as your budget and the location, but one important thing to investigate is whether the property is actually available.
Scammers are taking advantage of Perth’s tight rental market by posting fake adverts, or responding to ‘rental wanted’ posts, on classified sites and pretending to be landlords with vacant homes for lease.
If you’ve got a spare room or investment property, you may be considering advertising the space for short-term renting to make some extra money. Or perhaps you’re a local travelling across WA, who’s on the look-out for somewhere to stay that’s different to what’s on offer from traditional accommodation providers.
Whatever your motivation, it’s clear that Western Australia’s short-term rental market has been a game-changer for the state’s tourism industry over the last few years.
