Laws crackdown on government pretenders

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.