Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 25 January 2005

Wesfarmers Kleenheat gas - Guilty of Underweight Gas Bottles

Kleenheat Gas Pty Ltd was yesterday fined $5,000 and ordered to pay costs of $349 in the Rockingham Court of Petty Sessions on 22 charges of supplying underweight gas bottles.

A consumer who thought his gas bottle ‘felt a bit light’ used a set of bathroom scales to check his 8.8kg gas bottle and estimated it to contain less than 7kg of gas.

This led Consumer Protection Weights and Measures Inspectors to go to the company’s gas filling station in Kwinana and check a number of bottles, which in turn led to charges being laid against the company.

"The Court viewed the offences as serious and imposed the fine as a warning and deterrent”, Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

A senior representative of the company attended Court and used the opportunity to apologise through counsel for the occurrences.

“Consumers are entitled to get what they pay for and a lot of trust is placed on those who supply products, such as bottled gas, to provide accurate amounts.

“Consumers should never be afraid to query suppliers and have independent checks done if they are concerned they have been short weighted”, Commissioner Walker said.

In 2004 prosecutions for short weight included firewood and pre-packed meat and attracted fines of over $50,000.

“Those who sell underweight products risk giving all traders in that field a bad name and we encourage anyone who suspects they have not received the weight they have paid for to contact us for assistance”, Mr Walker said.

Consumer Protection is widening their random checks and inspections of scales throughout 2005 so traders who provide goods by weight should consider themselves on notice.

Telephone 1300 30 40 54, email consumer@docep.wa.gov.au , or go online at www.docep.wa.gov.au  to report suspected short weights.