Dob In A Dodgy Tradie Day

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (16:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer and Business Services a question about 'Dob in a Dodgy Tradie' day.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: It is very important that unlicensed builders and tradespeople are reported to Consumer and Business Services. Minister, will you provide the chamber with more details about how the state government is encouraging the community to report this type of offending?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:11): I thank the honourable member for his important question. The golden rule before hiring the services of a builder or tradesperson is to ensure that they hold the right licence for the job. By doing this, consumers know that they are dealing with a legitimate business and that the tradesperson has the right qualifications for the job. Hiring a licensed tradesperson also gives you greater legal protection should anything go wrong. It is extremely difficult to have shoddy workmanship corrected or compensation paid if the work has been done by an unlicensed tradesperson.

Last Friday, Consumer and Business Services urged community members to help stamp out dodgy and illegal practices amongst trade services with 'Dob in a Dodgy Tradie'. CBS particularly wanted to hear about any substandard work completed by unqualified and unlicensed tradespeople. I can advise the chamber that CBS received 53 calls on Friday: 21 of the calls related to concerns about licensed tradespersons and their poor workmanship and the majority of these calls were related to bathroom and kitchen alterations, paving, fencing and landscaping trades and 19 of the calls were allegations of builders trading without a licence.

CBS has enough evidence to investigate at least seven of these unlicensed matters. This figure may increase when CBS makes further contact with 12 of the callers in order to obtain additional evidence. CBS investigators will examine each of the matters in detail and closely assess a range of evidence to catch businesses that are trading illegally. Last time the campaign was held CBS received 54 calls, resulting in 15 formal warnings.

Homeowners should always consider that the tradie they are hiring has a licence, that the licence is current and in the tradesperson's own name and that it covers their area of trade. Tradies who contract for work without the appropriate licence are breaking the law, and operators caught as a result of the phone-in could face a range of sanctions including prosecution with penalties of up to $20,000. There are also compensation orders and disciplinary action that can be put in place.

In the last month alone, five tradespeople were prosecuted by CBS under the relevant industry legislation. CBS is constantly vigilant in seeking out unlicensed traders, including reviewing building development approvals and reports of unlicensed activity from councils, conducting media monitoring, Internet and electronic book purchases, liaising with various industry bodies such as the Master Builders Association, Housing Industry Association and planning associations to educate tradespeople, and assessing information and complaints received by the general public. Again, I urge consumers, when they are wanting to have trade work done around their homes or workplaces, to remember to use a licensed tradesperson.