South Australia's consumer watchdog has named and shamed a host of tradies operating without licences in a targeted crackdown on rogue practices. The state's Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has issued more than $200,000 in fines to builders, plumbers, gasfitters, and electricians this year alone, following the establishment of a dedicated team to police the building industry.
The watchdog has published a list of those hit by enforcement action, including a builder who was recently subject to a public warning notice. Last week, CBS issued a warning about home renovator Jase Henry, 38, after receiving 13 complaints about his work. Henry has now been fined $25,000 for advertising himself as a licensed contractor despite not holding a licence. His lawyers declined to comment on the list.
List of Tradies Fined
CBS said enforcement action had been taken against the following individuals:
- Khorshed Alam, 49, of Seacliff Park – fined $75,000 for allegedly claiming to be an "owner builder" of two properties in Salisbury and one in Elizabeth East, operating without a licence, and performing building work without Builders Indemnity Insurance.
- Jase Henry, 38, of Klemzig, trading as SOS Home Renovations – fined $25,000 for holding himself out as a licensed building work contractor when unlicensed, with investigations continuing.
- Anu Anand, 44, of Findon, trading as The Decor Planet SA – fined $5,000 for operating without a licence.
- Ras Pro Pty Ltd, director Hassan Ayoub, 25, of Hope Valley – fined $5,000 for advertising building work without a licence.
- Mohammed Konneh, 29, of Parafield Gardens, trading as MFK Roofing – fined $5,000 for advertising building work without a licence after complaints of incomplete and poor-quality work.
- Michael Wheeler, 38, of Port Noarlunga, trading as Maintena Property Maintenance – fined $5,000 for operating without a licence.
- Brady Lachlan Moldenhauer, 24, of Gawler South – fined $10,000 for failing to attend two compulsory conciliation conferences.
- Toby Brett Maple-Harradine, 31, of Aldinga Beach – fined $5,000 for failing to attend a compulsory conciliation conference.
It is not suggested that Moldenhauer or Maple-Harradine were unlicensed. Konneh told The Advertiser he recently moved from Brisbane and was asked to remove his website after working on six jobs worth up to $30,000. He said he would contact CBS about the warning. The others did not respond to requests for comment.
Government Response
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown said the government accepted no excuses for unlicensed work. "For most people, building a home is your biggest investment, and we are acting to protect South Australians," Brown said. "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."
