Federal MP Anne Stanley has given the thumbs up for a plan to establish a National Anti-Scam Centre to push back against the torrent of scams and online fraud.
The Member for Werriwa says Labor will set up the centre if it wins government at the next election, due by May next year.
She says Labor’s anti-scam policies are a response to ever-increasing scam callers who are plaguing Australians with fake invoices, fake deliveries and fake investment scams that cost Australia $33 billion last year alone.
“Lockdowns have forced many businesses and consumers online, which means more Australians have been targeted by scammers,” says Ms Stanley.
“Anyone can be a target of these illegal operations, but vulnerable people are particularly at risk.
“Ignoring these scams and not doing anything to prevent them will only mean more scammers to deal with in the future.”
Ms Stanley said Labor’s plan will bring together law enforcement, banks and telecommunications companies to protect Australians from scams by strengthening with new industry codes that enforce responsibilities for protecting consumers and businesses online.
Older Australians are particularly vulnerable.
“I receive many enquiries from constituents about these callers, and many are senior Australians,’’ Ms Stanley said.
“The calls are sophisticated and can convince or bully people who are not familiar or are overwhelmed by new technologies.
“Australia is in the top 5 most scammed countries in the world; this is not a record we should be proud of.
“More needs to be done to keep Australians safe.”
