The state government says it will introduce the strongest anti-skimming and identity crime legislation, following a recent scam that fleeced more than $2.5 million from Western Australians.
The state government says it will introduce the strongest anti-skimming and identity crime legislation, following a recent scam that fleeced more than $2.5 million from Western Australians.
The announcement is below:
The State Government has announced it will introduce the strongest anti-skimming and identity crime legislation in Australia.
Attorney General Christian Porter said Cabinet had today approved the drafting of anti-skimming legislation that would combine the strongest elements of the laws from other Australian jurisdictions.
"In recent months, thousands of Western Australians have been victims of identity crime, to the tune of more than $2.5million," Mr Porter said.
"It's an unfortunate reality that as technology has advanced, identity-related crimes have escalated.
"A strong legislative approach is needed to ensure anyone caught involved in stealing another person's identity is appropriately dealt with.
"The State Government will make it a crime to produce, use or supply another person's identification when there is intent to use that information to commit a crime, or facilitate someone else to commit a crime.
"Under the Liberal-National Government's proposal such an offence will ordinarily attract a maximum of five years imprisonment.
"However, if the offender is intending to produce, use or supply that information to commit a more serious criminal act then their offence would attract a higher penalty."
The Attorney General said the proposed bill would also prescribe maximum penalties of three years imprisonment for illicitly possessing identification information, and for illicitly possessing equipment capable of making, using, supplying, or retaining identification documentation.
"While the Opposition rushed to introduce two poorly-researched and inadequate bills, the State Government has done its homework and developed legislation, which represents the best practice approach to this problem," he said.
"What the State Government's legislation will do is make Western Australia the least desirable place in the country for would-be identity crime and skimming offenders."
Mr Porter said the bill would be introduced into Parliament early in the new year.
