I recently had my ATO/MY GOV account hacked and a false tax return was lodged under my name. Thankfully, I was quick enough to report the fraud on my account, but the experience left me rattled. Unfortunately, I am not alone; thousands have been affected in exactly the same way. Given that each person is assigned one TFN for life, those of us who have suffered from identity theft are now indefinitely exposed to potential fraud.

The impact of having a compromised Tax File Number (TFN) is not just financial but emotional and psychological. The constant fear of future fraudulent activities and the burden of continually renewing credit freezes is unsustainable. The current system leaves victims vulnerable and fails to provide adequate protection against future fraud attempts.

We need a change—a sensible policy that allows TFNs to be retired and new ones issued to those who are victims of identity theft. This can offer a fresh start and peace of mind to thousands of Australians like me who have had their personal details compromised.

Let’s urge the Australian Government to reconsider this critical aspect of identity protection, ensuring that those who fall victim to identity fraud are not left paying the price for a lifetime.

Sign this petition to help protect Australians from lifelong exposure to fraud. Your support could drive the change needed to offer security and peace of mind for those affected by this ever-growing issue.

I have started the process for an e-petition through the parliament of Australia. I'm currently waiting for the petition to be approved before a link becomes live. Collecting signatures here for now, in place of that link. 

e-petition number is EN7562