A dedicated squad targeting dodgy tradies has been established within the state’s consumer watchdog by the Malinauskas Labor Government.
The new Consumer and Business Services Building Industry Response Team (BIRT) came into effect earlier this year, tasked with cracking down on unscrupulous operators and better supporting South Australians who encounter difficulties while undertaking building work.
To date, the team has issued expiations worth more than $200,000 – sending a clear message to unlicensed operators that illegal behaviour will not be tolerated in the sector.
The establishment coincides with tougher penalties targeting unlicensed and dishonest builders, plumbers, gas-fitters and electricians who breach their legal obligations.
Operators hit with enforcement action to date include:
- Khorshed Alam – expiations totalling $75,000, after allegedly claiming to be an “owner builder” of two properties in Salisbury and one in Elizabeth East. He was expiated for three counts of operating without a licence, and three counts of performing building work without Builders Indemnity Insurance.
- Jase Henry, trading as SOS Home Renovations – expiations totalling $25,000 after allegedly holding himself out as a licensed building work contractor when he was not appropriately licensed – expiations for 5 counts of operating without a licence. Investigations are continuing into other potential breaches.
- Anu Anand, trading as The Décor Planet SA – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence.
- Ras Pro Pty Ltd – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence.
- Mohammed Konneh, trading as MFK Roofing – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence following complaints of incomplete and poor-quality work.
- Michael Wheeler trading as Maintena Property Maintenance – expiation totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence.
- Brady Lachlan Moldenhauer – expiations totalling $10000 for allegedly failing to attend two compulsory conciliation conferences.
- Toby Brett Maple-Harradine – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly failing to attend a compulsory conciliation conference.
Given the serious nature of the allegations, public warning notices have been issued against each of the above traders, encouraging consumers not to do business with them and urging any consumers who have not yet reported matters involving them to contact CBS.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of policy changes designed to better protect South Australian consumers following the Malinauskas Government’s review into the building construction industry. Previous reforms include increasing the policy limit for building indemnity insurance from $150,000 to $250,000 to better protect people when building a home.
As put by Michael Brown
For most people, building a home is your biggest investment, and we are acting to protect South Australians.
Most tradies do the right thing, but we accept no excuses for unlicensed work, missing indemnity insurance, or leaving homeowners stranded.
We refuse to tolerate this behaviour. Our dedicated compliance team is actively cracking down on these rogue operators.
