Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Financial Services. What is the Albanese Labor government's plan to protect Australians from criminal scammers? Are there any alternative approaches?

Mr JONES (Whitlam—Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services) (15:05): I thank my friend the member for Gilmore for the question. I know that, from Bomaderry to Batemans Bay, from Kiama to Ulladulla, she's working hard to keep her constituents' money and their information safe. We've introduced legislation into this House, and it is no exaggeration to say that, when passed, it will make Australia the hardest target anywhere in the world for criminal scammers to make a dollar. We will literally have the toughest scam prevention framework anywhere in the world. We will ensure that there is a significant uplift in prevention required right across the economy. It will be the toughest and hardest legislation anywhere in the world because it will apply to banks, to social media companies and to telecommunications companies. It will require them to prevent, detect, disrupt and respond to scams. It will provide victims with a pathway to compensation.

I'm asked, 'What are the obstacles to this legislation passing and us keeping Australians' money and information safe?' Frankly, it's the indifference of the opposition—their indifference to this is a problem. We know that, under the Leader of the Opposition's watch, scam losses doubled every year since 2016. They doubled because the Leader of the Opposition was weak and soft on criminal scammers. He was weak and soft on criminal scammers. Australians were sitting ducks and, frankly, this is the approach that they are persisting with in opposition.

I'm asked why I make that statement. This morning, when the leader of the National Party was presented with a very simple question—'Will you support Labor's legislation?'—he responded that they did not yet have a position on this. You're either on the side of the criminals or on the side of Australians and on the side of the Albanese Labor government, who is keeping Australians safe from these criminals. Under Labor, scam losses have reduced. They reduced by 13 per cent. We are the only country in the world that can make that claim. The clock is ticking. We can pass this legislation in this fortnight. Seven million dollars a day—that is how much Australians are losing. You can say in this parliament this week, 'I'll stand on the side of Australian consumers and I'll pass these laws,' or you can continue to be weak on the criminal scammers. You can't be strong in the telly and weak in parliament. Pass these laws. Back Australians.