National identity crime laws up for discussion

Bt Staff Writer

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced the release of a discussion paper on identity crime by a peak group of law experts from across Australia.

He says identity crime covers a broad range of offences, from illegally using another person's credit card details to make purchases to assuming another person's entire identity to open bank accounts, take out loans and conduct other business.

The increasing use of infomation technology means there is also an increase in identity fraud, according to the Attorney General.

"Although existing fraud offences are currently available in NSW, the development of identity crime legislation would ensure it kept up with newer identity crime methods," he says.
"A nationally consistent legislative framework would also be helpful in prosecuting identity crime offenders as they frequently work across state borders,"

The Model Criminal Law Officers' Committee (MCLOC), which includes representatives from state and Federal legal agencies, prepared the report at the request of the Standing Committee of Attorney Generals.

The report is available at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/clrd