Fake vaccine certificates now illegal in NSW
NSW has introduced a new law targeting people attempting to use fake vaccine certificates to enter venues.
The amendment to the NSW health order comes into effect from October 27 and states that a person must not provide information or evidence showing they are fully vaccinated unless it is true and accurate.
Those that breach the health order could be slapped with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a $11,000 fine.
Health minister Brad Hazzard signed off on the amendment to the public order the day before, as some have expressed concern over people obtaining forged certificates.
Image: @ausgov / Instagram
Last month, the ABC reported that the COVID-19 vaccination certificates can be forged in under 10 minutes by altering or copying certificates and changing the name, making it one of several vulnerabilities that have been reported.
An ad for forged vaccine certificates was also spotted on Instagram, with a screenshot of the ad reported to The Guardian last week.
Image: Instagram
According to the publication, the fake certificates could be loaded into a phone’s digital wallet through myGov or the Express Medicare app.
The account has since been suspended for selling fake documents.
The change in legislation comes after the state recorded 304 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and three deaths.
The state also reported that 93.2 percent of the population over 16 had received at least one jab.
Image: Getty Images