The New South Wales (NSW) government is set to introduce new laws to combat the growing issue of cybercrime and identity fraud. Australians lost over $2 billion to cyber scams last year, prompting the state government to take action.
The proposed legislation, known as the Identity Protection and Recovery Bill, will establish a fraud check service allowing government agencies and accredited organizations to verify if a person’s identity document (ID) details have been compromised. This service aims to prevent criminals from misusing stolen identities to apply for grants or credit.
Key Features of the Legislation
- Creation of a Compromised Credential Register to notify individuals and agencies when an ID document is potentially compromised
- Empowerment of agencies to stop criminals from misusing people’s details
- Enhancement of ID Support NSW to provide identity protection and recovery services
Digital Government Minister Jihad Dib emphasized that the new laws will help safeguard NSW residents, particularly vulnerable citizens, against cybercriminals and identity theft. “By alerting people quickly and supporting them to secure their identity and replace compromised ID documents, NSW residents will be better protected from impersonation, scams, and fraud,” Mr. Dib said.
ID Support NSW, launched in 2021, currently notifies residents of data breaches and assists in replacing government documents. The new bill will expand its role to include operating the Compromised Credential Register.
Once an ID document is known to be potentially compromised, it will be added to the register, and both the resident and issuing authority will be notified. This proactive approach aims to prevent identity theft and reduce the financial losses associated with cyber scams.
The introduction of this legislation comes as Australia reported over 67,000 scams to ScamWatch in 2024, highlighting the need for robust measures to combat cybercrime.
