A WA director who misused his father’s building contractor credentials has been fined $20,000 after pleading guilty to several offences, including invalid home indemnity insurance. 

The Perth Magistrates Court heard Bigwave Pty Ltd entered into contracts in 2020 and 2021 for building work at properties in Waikiki and Guilderton, valued at $231,000 and $48,000. 

Neither its director Timothy John Bushe-Jones or the company – which traded as Bushewood Building Company – held registration as building contractors.  

Contracts and permit applications named Bigwave as the builder but used the building contractor registration number of Mr Bushe-Jones' father, who held valid registration but was not involved in either project. 

A home indemnity insurance certificate for the Waikiki project was found to be invalid because it named the father as the builder. Mr Bushe-Jones did not apply for this insurance for the Guilderton property. 

Clients were unable to make home indemnity insurance claims for the project when the company was deregistered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in 2023. 

Invalid home indemnity insurance is an offence under the Home Building Contracts Act.  

Mr Bushe-Jones also sought progress payments totalling $28,000 from the Guilderton homeowners when materials or services had not been provided. 

“Situations like this show the significance of registration compliance as homeowners can be stranded when a company ceases to exist and home indemnity insurance is not valid,” WA building commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan said. 

Builders’ insurance details can be confirmed through QBE’s certificate register. 

https://www.qbe.com/au/builders-warranty/certificate-register