Laws crackdown on government pretenders

The Turnbull government has introduced a new bill to parliament that makes it illegal to impersonate a Commonwealth body, such as Medicare or Centrelink.

Anyone who pretends to be from or acting on behalf of a federal government agency could face up to two years' jail under proposed new laws.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan on Wednesday introduced legislation that makes it a criminal offence to impersonate a Commonwealth entity. It comes after Labor's so-called 'Mediscare' campaign during the last federal election.

"It is essential to a well-functioning democracy that the public have trust in the legitimacy of statements made by government agencies," he told parliament.


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Source: AAP



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