Government Unveils Bill to Make Australia ‘One of the Toughest Places’ for Scammers

Amid a surge in cyber scams costing Australians billions, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones MP introduced The Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) Bill on Nov. 7, aiming to tackle the growing threat head-on. “International crime organisations are targeting Australia. There’s a scam pandemic, and it’s costing billions,” Jones said. The proposed legislation introduces a broad approach to scams under the Competition and Consumer Act. “This bill will make Australia one of the toughest places in the world for scammers to operate,” Jones told the Parliament on Nov. 7. The debate on the bill was adjourned until a later session. Key Features of the Bill The new anti-scam bill puts tougher rules on businesses, requiring them to actively prevent scams, monitor for suspicious activity, and report incidents....