What are my rights if a tradie does bad work in Australia?

Australian Consumer Law guarantees that services are provided with due care and skill, are fit for purpose, and are delivered in a reasonable time. For minor problems the business may fix them; for major problems you can cancel and seek a refund or compensation.

Can a tradie's contract remove my consumer rights?

No. Consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law cannot be excluded, restricted or modified by a contract term or a sign.

Who do I complain to about a tradesperson?

Start with the business in writing. Then your state fair trading or consumer affairs body, or the building regulator for building work. A state tribunal handles smaller claims without a lawyer.

Your rights when tradie work goes wrong

Short answer

Under Australian Consumer Law, services must be provided with due care and skill, be fit for purpose, and be delivered within a reasonable time. These guarantees apply automatically and cannot be excluded by a contract or a sign. Start with the business in writing, then your state regulator or fair trading body, then a tribunal for smaller claims.

This is general information, not legal advice — but the basics are worth knowing before you need them, because the guarantees apply whether or not anyone mentioned them.

The guarantees you already have

Australian Consumer Law provides consumer guarantees on services. For trade work the relevant ones are that the service is provided with due care and skill, is fit for the purpose you asked for, and is supplied within a reasonable time where no time was agreed.

These are automatic. A business cannot remove them with a term in its contract, a sign on the wall, or a line on the invoice — and a business telling you otherwise is misinformed or hoping you are.

Major versus minor problems

For a minor problem, the business gets the chance to fix it. You cannot immediately demand a refund for something they are willing and able to repair.
For a major problem — work that is substantially unfit, unsafe, or would not have been agreed to if you had known — you can cancel and seek a refund, or keep it and claim compensation for the drop in value.

The order to escalate in

Raise it with the business in writing. Email is fine and creates the record you will need. Describe the problem and what you want done.
If that fails, contact your state's fair trading or consumer affairs body. Most run a free dispute resolution service, and a letter from them resolves a surprising number of disputes.
For building work, the state building regulator may have a specific complaints process, and for licensed builders there may be insurance you can claim on.
Failing that, a state tribunal handles smaller claims without needing a lawyer.

Why the paperwork matters more than being right

Every step above works better with a written quote describing the scope, an invoice, and a record of what you asked for and when. This is the practical reason to insist on written quotes: not distrust, but that a dispute you can evidence is one you can resolve.

Common questions

What are my rights if a tradie does bad work in Australia?: Australian Consumer Law guarantees that services are provided with due care and skill, are fit for purpose, and are delivered in a reasonable time. For minor problems the business may fix them; for major problems you can cancel and seek a refund or compensation.
Can a tradie's contract remove my consumer rights?: No. Consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law cannot be excluded, restricted or modified by a contract term or a sign.
Who do I complain to about a tradesperson?: Start with the business in writing. Then your state fair trading or consumer affairs body, or the building regulator for building work. A state tribunal handles smaller claims without a lawyer.