Consumer Protection provides advice and information for Western Australian consumers, businesses, landlords and tenants.
On this page:
- What Consumer Protection does
- What the Commissioner for Consumer Protection can do
- What the Consumer Protection and the Commissioner cannot do
- When Consumer Protection refers you to another agency
- Consumer Protection laws
- Consumer Protection policies
- Consumer Protection's Year in Review reports
- Contact Consumer Protection
What does Consumer Protection do
Consumer Protection educates the public and supports fair trading across WA.
We help resolve disputes and enforce consumer laws.
We provide help and guidance on:
- making complaints relating to laws we enforce
- housing and accommodation including renting
- buying and selling products and services for consumers and businesses
- cars and other vehicles
- scams, travelling conmen and unlicensed traders
- unsafe products
- charities and associations
- some occupational licences and registrations including in the real estate and motor vehicle industries.
Consumer Protection can help you with resolving issues relating to our laws through our complaints process see What happens when you complain.
What the Commissioner for Consumer Protection can do
The Commissioner can also take action against traders for serious breaches which have an impact on the wider community:
- publicly name traders in the media
- conduct investigations
- take court action.
Commissioner’s Determinations
The Commissioner has special decision‑making powers limited to specific areas:
- requests to keep a pet in a rental home
- requests for minor modifications to a rental home
- coming soon - some bond disputes.
You can contact Consumer Protection to see if these special powers are relevant to your situation.
What the Consumer Protection and the Commissioner cannot do
Consumer Protection and the Commissioner cannot:
- Order a trader to give a refund, repair, replacement or compensation.
- Require a landlord or property manager to extend a rental agreement, reduce rent, or carry out maintenance or renovations.
- Force a person or business to take part in conciliation or respond to a complaint.
- Resolve disputes that are purely private, civil, or contractual (for example, disputes between neighbours or between strata members).
- Award compensation or damages for emotional distress.
- Investigate a matter just for one consumer. Investigations focus on compliance with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and other legislation, not on securing an outcome for an individual.
- Provide updates about, or disclose details of, regulatory investigations. These investigations are confidential.
- Provide legal advice.
- Act as a consumer’s advocate, representative, or lawyer.
When Consumer Protection refers you to another agency
Other agencies may be better in helping with some issues, for example:
- Tenant vs tenant disputes: Circle Green Community Legal (the new home of Tenancy WA) (08) 6148 3636 or for country callers 1800 621 888.
- Telephone and internet services: Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
- Disputes with electricity, gas and water providers: Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia.
- Business names: Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
- Australian Business Numbers (ABNs): Australian Business Register.
- Commercial/retail leases: Small Business Development Corporation.
- First homeowner grants: Department of Finance.
- Transfer duty: Department of Finance.
The Consumer Protection supporting fair and safe trading in WA guide has more contact details of other agencies who can assist if you are in a dispute with a business.
Consumer Protection laws
Consumer Protection legislation is in the Minister for Commerce's portfolio.
Consumer Protection policies
Consumer Protection follows a few policies which guide our work in promoting fair trading, providing information, resolving disputes, and investigating complaints. These policies are for internal staff and are publicly available:
Consumer Protection also follows the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics and Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety's Code of Conduct.
Consumer Protection's Year in Review reports
The “Year in Review" highlight our key accomplishments and statistics from the year.
- Consumer Protection Year in Review 2024-25
- Consumer Protection Year in Review 2023-24
- Consumer Protection Year in Review 2022-23
Contact Consumer Protection
Consumer Protection can help you with consumer issues, scam awareness and rental disputes.
- Email: consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 30 40 54