Tens of thousands of identity documents are reported lost in the Australian post each year, according to government figures obtained by 7.30.

The data shows around 3,200 Australian passports were reported "lost in the post" over the past three years after being sent via registered mail.


More than 70,000 Queensland driver's licences and photo ID cards were also declared lost in the post by customers over the same period.

The Queensland government says 25,000 identity documents were reported lost in the post in the last financial year.

While the number of passports and licences declared lost in the post only represents a very small proportion of the millions sent each year — around 1 per cent or less — identity theft experts have described the figures as "concerning".


IDCare founder David Lacey said any official photo ID could present a risk of identity theft if unaccounted-for.

"The general rule of thumb is any government-issued credential that has a photo is of value to a criminal," he said.

Licences appeared to be the "credential of choice" for criminals, he added.


"You can acquire a driver's licence on the dark net for around $70 — which is almost twice the price of a passport," he said.

"Criminals are putting a particular value on drivers' licences."

He added that this is because they can be used to access more products and services than other forms of ID.


"The most common misuse we see in relation to a driver's licence stolen — or even just the details acquired — relate to transaction account establishment or the establishment of credit in someone's name," Mr Lacey said.

The number of Australian licences unaccounted-for in the postal system could be much higher, but most states don't track this specific data or would not provide it when requested by 7.30.

To limit the risk of identity theft and fraud, replacement cards are reissued with new unique numbers, a Queensland government spokesperson said.

If an Australian passport is reported lost in the post, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade opens an investigation with Australia Post. If it is unable to be located, it is cancelled and a new passport is issued.

Some passports and identity cards reported missing have since been recovered, but no figures were available on the numbers now accounted for.

'Felt very violating'​

Father-of-three Sean has recently been informed three United States passports in his children's names are considered "lost" in the post.

The Pennsylvania-born father, who does not want his family's location or surname revealed due to privacy fears linked to the losses, ordered the passports through the US Consulate in Melbourne in June.

7.30 has seen emails confirming they were posted two weeks later, with three separate tracking numbers.

The items disappeared from the Australia Post tracking system after being processed by the Melbourne Airport sorting facility on July 1.

Australia Post conducted a search after Sean lodged an enquiry.

He was surprised to learn all three could not be located.

"They were each packaged individually," he said.

"The fact all three went missing at the same time concerned me."


Sean told 7.30 Australia Post had compensated him $100 per passport, but the financial cost was not the issue.

"I'm just really worried about my kids' safety and their privacy," he said.

"It felt very violating. It's like someone breaks into your home and takes something from you. They've been looking through all your stuff, you know?"

Recent security breaches in the postal system have added to Sean's concerns about mail safety but 7.30 is not suggesting the loss of Sean's passports is linked to other incidents.

Security breaches in the system​

In July, thieves forced their way into the Melbourne GPO mailbox three times in a matter of days and attempted to enter a fourth time.

In August, a Sydney postal worker and two men were charged over an alleged $1.4 million fraud ring. It's alleged that the Australia Post employee was stealing bank cards from the mail and supplying them to criminal syndicates.

Following the arrests, NSW Financial Crimes Squad Commander Con Galea said Australia Post was conducting "internal investigations looking at the vulnerabilities within their system".

In February, a former postal contractor in Sydney was sentenced to two years' jail for taking around $400,000 worth of gift cards, alcohol, luxury watches and cash from the mail between 2021 and 2023.

Australia Post declined to comment on the security incidents and mail fraud allegations when contacted by 7.30.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Australia Post delivers more than 9 million parcels each week around Australia and the vast majority reach their destination safely and on time."

Postal Industry Ombudsman Iain Anderson said there were a "range of issues" leading to items going missing in the mail.

"The volumes Australia Post deals with are very high, and they have an automated process, so things can go missing simply because there's a problem with the mechanics of a process or system," he said.

"Alternatively, an address may be incorrect on an item."

Packaging issues and weather events can also lead to losses.

Complaints to the Postal Industry Ombudsman increased by 8.5 per cent in the last financial year to 4,566.

Delivery issues topped the list of complaints, while loss came in third at around 20 per cent.

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By Fiona Willan