Boost for Australia’s Triple Zero

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has endorsed the recent passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025. This legislation, spearheaded through Federal Parliament by Communications Minister Anika Wells, aims to bolster the reliability and oversight of the nation’s emergency communication services.

The new law introduces a designated Triple Zero Custodian within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts. Additionally, it grants ACMA enhanced powers to direct the telecommunications industry, ensuring the effective operation of the Emergency Call Service (ECS). This legislative move is part of broader efforts to fortify the country’s emergency call infrastructure following the critical review triggered by the Optus Outage on November 8, 2023.

Under the new framework, telecommunications companies will face enforceable regulatory obligations. These include mandatory communication with customers and other stakeholders within the Triple Zero ecosystem during significant local outages, improved testing protocols for networks and devices, and strengthened requirements for handling complaints related to network disruptions.

Acting ACMA Chair Adam Suckling expressed confidence in the legislation, emphasizing its role in enhancing the resilience and supervision of Australia’s emergency call systems. “Australians need to be assured that Triple Zero will function reliably in times of crisis,” Suckling stated. He also highlighted ACMA’s commitment to collaborating with the new Custodian, telecommunications companies, and other key players to refine emergency preparedness and oversee the smooth operation of ECS.

With these changes, ACMA anticipates not only an improvement in the infrastructure’s robustness but also a significant enhancement in public trust and safety during emergencies.