Issued by Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Tas) - 12 June 2025
In the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania), the Director is ‘the regulator’, under section 8 of the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010.
The Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading for Tasmania* is issuing this Public Warning Notice to warn consumers about the alleged conduct of Anthony Michael Murfet.
Anthony Michael Murfet trades under many business names, including:
- Tony Murfet
- Tony Murfet Maintenance
- Tony Murfett Maintenance
- AM Wholesalers Builders and Renovators
- Home Improvements
- Paint Busters
- T.M. Cladding
Anthony Michael Murfet advertises his services online through various social media pages and HiPages.
Since 2015 the Director, via Consumer Building & Occupational Services, has received numerous complaints about Anthony Michael Murfet. The particulars of the complaints are similar, alleging that after providing quotations or entering into contracts for building services work, roof plumbing, plumbing or electrical works, Anthony Michael Murfet receives sizeable deposits and either does not commence the work, or partially completes the work to an unsatisfactory standard. Additionally, much of the work contracted by Anthony Michael Murfet is for prescribed building or plumbing work for which he does not hold a current licence.
Section 158(7) of the Australian Consumer Law prohibits traders from accepting payments for goods or services and failing to provide them within a specific period, or if no period is specified, within a reasonable time.
Anthony Michael Murfet plead guilty in 2020 to 7 offences including failing to hold an appropriate building licence, holding himself out as a building practitioner without having the relevant licence, and contracting services without the appropriate licence. He was fined $10,000.
Anthony Michael Murfet was found guilty of 7 offences in August 2023 and fined $40,000. These offences occurred in 2021 and 2022. He was issued an infringement notice on another matter in 2022 and is currently under investigation for a further 8 offences relating to illegal and defective building or plumbing work, failing to supply building services, and performing work without the required licence.
The Director is warning the public about the alleged conduct of Anthony Michael Murfet, by issuing this notice under section 223 of the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania), because the Director:
- has reasonable grounds to suspect the conduct by Anthony Michael Murfet constitutes contraventions of section 158(7) of the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania), by accepting payment for goods or services and not providing them within a specified period, or within a reasonable time;
- is satisfied that one or more people has suffered, or is likely to suffer detriment as a result of engaging with and paying Anthony Michael Murfet for building goods and/or services, and these goods or services have not or will not be provided as agreed between the parties (or at all); and
- is satisfied it is in the public interest to issue this Public Warning Notice.
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