Telecommunications

Opened the debate

McIntosh argued that the government had obstructed accountability by blocking a House select committee inquiry and failing to fully implement the Bean Review recommendations. McIntosh contended that the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025 contained insufficient penalties and reporting mechanisms, noting that reports would not be publicly available. McIntosh highlighted specific incidents, including the September 2025 outage and a recent incident in Gippsland, to demonstrate systemic failures in communication and oversight. McIntosh called for an independent investigation rather than one led by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which she described as part of the failed system.

Opposition response

Webster supported the motion, arguing that an independent inquiry was necessary because the Australian Communications and Media Authority could not impartially investigate itself. Webster questioned the government's response to the September 2025 outage, suggesting that reliance on Optus's initial estimates understated the severity of the crisis. Webster also raised concerns about the impact of the 3G network shutdown on regional connectivity and emergency services access. Webster urged the Minister for Communications to attend the Senate inquiry to explain the government's actions and knowledge regarding the outages.