❓ Hon. Kate Doust inquired about complaints received by the Department of Commerce and the Minister regarding SmartSpace modular buildings sold by Bunnings. The Department received two complaints from the same complainant, and the Minister's office received one related complaint, all concerning the quality and safety of the products.
AnsweredQoN 1018Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SMARTSPACE MODULAR BUILDINGS AND HOMES
1018. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for
Commerce:
I refer to SmartSpace modular
buildings and homes sold by Bunnings Group Limited.
(1) Has the
Department of Commerce in any division—for example, the Consumer
Protection Division, the Building Commission or EnergySafety—received
any complaints about these products?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) how many
complaints have been received;
(b) when were the
complaints received;
(c) what was the
nature of the complaints; and
(d) what was the
outcome of each complaint?
(3) Has the minister or the minister's
office received any complaints relating to these products?
(4) If yes to (3) —
(a) how many
complaints have been received;
(b) when were the
complaints received;
(c) what was the
nature of the complaints; and
(d) what was the
outcome of each complaint?
1018. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for
Commerce:
I refer to SmartSpace modular
buildings and homes sold by Bunnings Group Limited.
(1) Has the
Department of Commerce in any division—for example, the Consumer
Protection Division, the Building Commission or EnergySafety—received
any complaints about these products?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) how many
complaints have been received;
(b) when were the
complaints received;
(c) what was the
nature of the complaints; and
(d) what was the
outcome of each complaint?
(3) Has the minister or the minister's
office received any complaints relating to these products?
(4) If yes to (3) —
(a) how many
complaints have been received;
(b) when were the
complaints received;
(c) what was the
nature of the complaints; and
(d) what was the
outcome of each complaint?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Commerce's Consumer Protection Division has received two
complaints about modular or kit homes being sold by Bunnings Group Limited.
(2) (a) There are two—from
the same complainant.
(b) The initial
complaint was July 2014; and the second complaint was November 2015.
(c) The
complaints alleged that Bunnings was selling pre-fabricated kit dwellings that
were different from the display model available for inspection and were
potentially unsafe.
(d) The
initial complaint resulted in an attempt to conciliate the dispute between the
complainant and Bunnings. Remedial actions, including the following, were
offered: Bunnings to arrange a tradesman to attend the premises to resolve an
issue relating to the adhesion of gyprock—alternatively, the consumer
was offered the opportunity to obtain two independent quotes for consideration
by Bunnings; Bunnings to consider a quote from the complainant for replacement
of alleged noncompliant electrical equipment; Bunnings to arrange a tradesman
to attend the premises to inspect a leak in the kitchen window and rectify the
issue; and Bunnings to arrange a tradesman to attend the premises to inspect
bi-fold doors which the complainant alleged did not close properly and rectify
the issue.
Both Consumer Protection and Building
Commission officers were involved in settling this dispute. The subsequent
complaint resulted in an investigation of the allegations in relation to
provisions of the Fair Trading Act 2010 and the Australian Consumer Law. The
investigation did not result in enforcement action being taken by the Consumer
Protection Division.
(3) Yes.
(4) (a) One. This
matter was referred to the Consumer Protection Division and appears in the
answers to (2).
(b) Following a search
in the time available, I am advised that correspondence regarding this
complaint was received on 17 July 2015, 26 October 2015, 30 October 2015, and 3
November 2015.
(c) See (2)(c).
(d) See (2)(d).
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Commerce's Consumer Protection Division has received two
complaints about modular or kit homes being sold by Bunnings Group Limited.
(2) (a) There are two—from
the same complainant.
(b) The initial
complaint was July 2014; and the second complaint was November 2015.
(c) The
complaints alleged that Bunnings was selling pre-fabricated kit dwellings that
were different from the display model available for inspection and were
potentially unsafe.
(d) The
initial complaint resulted in an attempt to conciliate the dispute between the
complainant and Bunnings. Remedial actions, including the following, were
offered: Bunnings to arrange a tradesman to attend the premises to resolve an
issue relating to the adhesion of gyprock—alternatively, the consumer
was offered the opportunity to obtain two independent quotes for consideration
by Bunnings; Bunnings to consider a quote from the complainant for replacement
of alleged noncompliant electrical equipment; Bunnings to arrange a tradesman
to attend the premises to inspect a leak in the kitchen window and rectify the
issue; and Bunnings to arrange a tradesman to attend the premises to inspect
bi-fold doors which the complainant alleged did not close properly and rectify
the issue.
Both Consumer Protection and Building
Commission officers were involved in settling this dispute. The subsequent
complaint resulted in an investigation of the allegations in relation to
provisions of the Fair Trading Act 2010 and the Australian Consumer Law. The
investigation did not result in enforcement action being taken by the Consumer
Protection Division.
(3) Yes.
(4) (a) One. This
matter was referred to the Consumer Protection Division and appears in the
answers to (2).
(b) Following a search
in the time available, I am advised that correspondence regarding this
complaint was received on 17 July 2015, 26 October 2015, 30 October 2015, and 3
November 2015.
(c) See (2)(c).
(d) See (2)(d).
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