Continued the debate
Wells argued that connectivity is a necessity for work, education, and safety, requiring robust safeguards against provider mistreatment. Wells highlighted recent court rulings against Telstra and Optus for misleading or unconscionable conduct as evidence of the need for reform. The bill proposes raising maximum fines from $250,000 to $10 million, or up to 30 per cent of turnover in serious cases. It also removes the two-step enforcement process, allowing the Australian Communications and Media Authority to act directly on code breaches. Additionally, it establishes a registration scheme for carriage service providers to ensure market transparency and accountability.