Australians have taken advantage of quicker, simpler, and more accessible digital statutory declarations more than 22,000 times in the first five months of the new service.

The new digital statutory declaration service, available through myGov, was launched earlier this year to provide Australians with greater choice and flexibility.

The pioneering digital service allows Australians to complete Commonwealth statutory declarations online and without a witness, using Digital ID.

The first annual report of the service, which covers a period between 9 February and 30 June 2024, was tabled in Parliament today.

The report shows that in those first five months, the digital Commonwealth statutory declaration service was used 22,000 times.

The annual report also confirms myGov is a reliable and secure platform to use, with no breaches associated with using the web platform or app for digital statutory declarations.

This reflects the strong security and privacy protections embedded in the myGov platform.

The Government is already taking steps to enhance and encourage greater education of the new service, in order to continue boosting uptake.

This includes having clearer, more accessible information about the service on Australian Government websites, and a commitment to reviewing the service after two years in an effort to identify further improvements.

The digital Commonwealth statutory declaration project was recently awarded the 2024 Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Spirit of Service Award for Collaboration. The award underscores the importance and impact of modernising statutory declarations for all Australians.

Commonwealth statutory declarations can be made in three equally valid and legally effective forms:

• through the myGov website or myGov app and Digital ID
• digitally using electronic signatures and video-link witnessing
• and the traditional, paper-based method.

View more information on how to create a digital Commonwealth statutory declaration in myGov.

Quote attributable to Minister for Finance Senator Katy Gallagher:

This new service means Australians can spend less time running around town finding someone to sign statutory declaration forms, and more time getting on with their day.
The first annual report shows the service is off to a strong start, and we are confident that uptake will continue to grow over time.

Quote attributable to Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten MP:

Australians lead busy lives. This new feature allows people to fill in a stat dec in a matter of minutes, by themselves, from the convenience of their phone.
The new system has already saved $2 million in just five months and we will see even greater savings and take up into the future.
This gives Australians more choice in how they create this important legal document, and we expect to see growing numbers of Australians choosing this convenient option.

Quote attributable to the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP:

This report confirms the rollout of digital statutory declarations is benefitting all Australians seeking a more convenient, and efficient, process - particularly those in rural, remote or regional parts of Australia.

I am particularly pleased that strong safeguards have ensured the new scheme has protected users against fraud and misuse of personal information.