Issue Date:  -  Friday, 7 January 2000

Beating the GST's effects - and having a say

The Ministry of Fair Trading is gearing up to help both consumers and traders, who are involved in building a house in 2000 to minimize any GST headaches.

Effects of the GST on consumers and builders when building a new home have been explained in two easy to read brochures, called "Building Notes for Consumers" and "Building Notes for Builders".

A detailed "check-list" called "Building Your New Home" has also been prepared by the Ministry for those building new homes to ensure they avoid the many possible pitfalls.

"Another bonus for consumers are the reviews of building legislation currently being undertaken", Policy Officer Rob Elkins said . The three reviews are open for public comment as follows:

Home Indemnity Insurance:
Comments invited until 22-1-00
National Competition Policy Review of the Home Building Contracts Act:
Comments invited until 15-2-00
National Competition Policy Review of the Builder's Registration Act:
Comments invited until 29-2-00
The National Competition Policy reviews are in line with the government's commitment to review all legislation to scrutinize whether present costs and restraints are justified, as well as the opportunities for any better non-legislative approaches.

Copies of the GST publications, home builder's check-list and all review documents are available free of charge from:

E-Mail: consumer@docep.wa.gov.au
Telephone: (08) 9282 0894

Ministry of Fair Trading Telephone Advice: 1300 30 40 54

Media Contacts:
Mike Winchester
(08) 9282 0961
Neil Stanbury
(08) 9282 0613