Catenaa, Tuesday, November 04, 2025-The Australian government has expanded regulatory powers over the country’s Triple Zero emergency call system following multiple service failures, including a 2023 Optus outage that contributed to four deaths.
Emergency legislation upgrades the Triple Zero Custodian from an administrative to a statutory role within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
The Custodian can now demand information from telcos through the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to monitor performance, identify risks, and respond rapidly to outages.
The law also increases the maximum penalty for telcos failing to meet Triple Zero obligations to A$30 million ($19.8 million).
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the changes aim to restore public confidence and hold operators accountable for service failures.
Telcos must now report outages in real time, test emergency call functionality during upgrades, and ensure calls can be routed over rival networks if needed.
Outage incidents will require improvement plans and public disclosure, while additional performance requirements are expected within six months.
The changes follow repeated failures, including a firewall upgrade and a faulty tower that disrupted emergency services. Certain Samsung devices were also found unable to switch to alternate networks during outages, prompting replacement notices.
The ACMA welcomed the enhanced role, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding Australians during critical emergencies.
Meanwhile, a Senate inquiry into Triple Zero performance has been launched, putting Optus and government officials under intensified scrutiny to ensure accountability and systemic improvements.
