Labor would crackdown on scammers

A Labor government would increase ten-fold the fines on scammers who swindle $229 million from consumers each year.

Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said current penalties of up to $1.1 million were too small to act as a deterrent, low by international standards and seen as the cost of doing business by some offenders.

"Australians are sick of it, and so is Labor. That is why we will crackdown on these practices," Dr Leigh said in a statement on Wednesday.