Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025; Second Reading

House of Representatives · Wednesday 8 October 2025

Continued from Tuesday 7 October 2025.

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate centred on the government's response to the September 2025 Optus outage, which prevented emergency calls and resulted in four deaths. The government argued the bill establishes a Triple Zero Custodian and strengthens ACMA powers to prevent future failures. Opposition and independent members criticised the rushed timeline, the lack of an independent investigation, and the slow implementation of previous review recommendations. They also highlighted ongoing connectivity issues in regional areas and the need for disaster roaming. The bill was passed after the opposition withdrew a motion to end debate.

Outcome

The bill was read a second time after the opposition withdrew a motion to end debate.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Continued the debate

Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay) (Liberal Party) Liberal

McIntosh opposed the bill, characterising it as rushed legislation introduced with less than 24 hours notice following the September 2025 Optus outage. McIntosh argued that the government had ignored warning signs and failed to act on the Bean review recommendations accepted 18 months prior. McIntosh contended that the Triple Zero Custodian role, established administratively in March 2025, should have been legislated earlier and questioned why it required new powers now. McIntosh called for an independent investigation into the outage rather than relying on ACMA, which McIntosh argued was part of the failed process. McIntosh foreshadowed moving amendments to strengthen the bill and urged the government to support them.

Government response

Susan Templeman (Macquarie) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Templeman supported the bill, stating it enshrines the Triple Zero Custodian framework in law and empowers ACMA to act swiftly during outages. Templeman explained that the reforms improve coordination across the emergency call ecosystem and allow the government to step in decisively. Templeman highlighted new statutory powers for ACMA to issue binding directions to carriers and impose civil penalties for non-compliance. Templeman linked the bill to broader efforts to improve telecommunications resilience, including investments in infrastructure and the upcoming universal coverage obligation. Templeman commended the bill to the House as a measure to rebuild public confidence in triple 0.

Opposition response

Anne Webster (Mallee) (National Party) Nationals

Webster opposed the bill's current form, arguing it took the tragic deaths of four Australians to progress the legislation. Webster criticised the government for implementing only one of the 18 Bean review recommendations and questioned the independence of the proposed Triple Zero Custodian. Webster highlighted connectivity failures in regional and remote areas, citing constituent experiences with dropped calls and inability to reach emergency services. Webster moved amendments to emphasise the needs of rural, regional, and remote Australians, arguing that without specific reporting on these areas, lives would continue to be lost. Webster asserted that the government's approach demonstrated a lack of care for regional communities.