DARWIN - 9 November 2021
Territorians are sick and tired of being bombarded with scam calls and SMS text messages.
Territorians and business owners are under siege on their phones, emails, and social media accounts from a national scamdemic ripping through our economy.
International data suggests that Australia is in the top five countries in the world for getting scammed, and Labor will take the fight up to the gangs perpetrating these crimes.
Unfortunately, Scott Morrison’s inaction has allowed these online gangs to flourish unchecked.
He has ignored repeated warnings, didn’t talk to businesses, law enforcement and regulators about what more could be done, and has failed to take action.
Now Aussie households and businesses lose $33 billion a year to scams.
An Albanese Labor Government will:
- Establish a National Anti-Scam Centre, based on the successful UK ‘Fusion Cell’ model, bringing together law enforcement, banks, telecommunications providers and consumer advocates to harden national defences protecting Australian consumers and small businesses;
- Double funding for identification recovery services to help Australians who have fallen prey to scammers get their stolen ID back quicker;
- Work through National Cabinet to make it easier for government agencies to work together to recover people’s government-issued ID, like licenses and passports;
- Bring in tough new industry codes for banks, telecommunications providers, social media providers and Government agencies to clearly define responsibilities for protecting consumers and businesses online;
- Review penalties for perpetrators and remedies for consumers currently in place for online fraud, misleading conduct and deceptive practices;
- Ensure that technology platforms who profit from the sale of online advertising are made responsible for the prompt removal of scam advertising from their sites;
- Task a Minister with direct portfolio responsibility for championing the protection of consumers and businesses online.
ENDS
