A Perth man has pleaded guilty to providing false information, including the forged signature of a major company’s CEO, when applying for builder registration.
The man appeared at Perth Magistrates Court following prosecution by Building and Energy. He is not named because the court granted a spent conviction.
The court heard the man twice applied for registration as a building practitioner. Both applications claimed he had worked for a major construction company and included statements, apparently signed by the CEO, to verify this experience.
The man also applied to register his business as a building contractor and named the construction company CEO as the firm’s nominated supervisor.
The court was told the man had never worked for the construction company. The CEO did not know the applicant, was unaware of his business and had not seen or signed any documents provided in the applications.
A defence lawyer told the court the man had paid $20,000 to two associates for assistance with the registration applications and these acquaintances had added the false experience rather than the man’s genuine history.
Building and Energy’s lawyer said even if others were involved, the applicant was aware early on that false information was included in his applications.
Magistrate Sarah Oliver noted the man’s early guilty plea and prior good character while emphasising the importance of honesty and general deterrence. He was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $300.50 in costs.
Building Commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan said it was an offence under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 to provide false or misleading information in a registration application.
“Registration aims to ensure that only people with appropriate qualifications and experience carry out building work, in light of the serious implications for safety and well-being,” he said.
“Attempting to bypass these requirements is unacceptable and undermines those who have achieved builder registration through genuine credentials and actual experience.”
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Media contact: BEmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au
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