ACMA Sharpens Consumer Safeguards

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has unveiled its compliance and enforcement priorities for the fiscal year 2026–27, emphasizing enhanced protections for consumers in the telecommunications sector. The announcement details a robust approach to tackle areas posing significant risks to consumers, ensuring safer and more reliable communication services across Australia.

ACMA’s strategic focus includes critical areas such as ensuring uninterrupted access to emergency services through Triple Zero and intensifying efforts to curb branded SMS scams. Additionally, the new regulations aim to enforce compliance on mobile phone equipment and strengthen safeguards for individuals affected by domestic, family, and sexual violence.

According to ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin, the priorities are set to meet the escalating expectations of consumers who rely heavily on communication services for both social and economic purposes. “Our goal is to address sectors where the industry’s compliance is crucial for public safety and connectivity. From facilitating access to emergency services to protecting consumers from potential scams and ensuring support for vulnerable groups, ACMA is committed to enforcing regulations where needed,” O’Loughlin stated.

The formulation of these priorities followed a comprehensive public consultation process, reflecting a broad engagement with stakeholders to pinpoint critical areas for regulatory focus. In addition to the new priorities for 2026–27, ACMA continues to uphold three ongoing compliance focuses: mitigating gambling-related harm, battling spam and telecommunications scams, and protecting vulnerable customers.

This announcement follows ACMA’s recent release of the ‘Outcomes: compliance priorities 2025–26’ report, which evaluates the authority’s performance against the previous year’s objectives, underscoring its proactive stance in regulatory enforcement and consumer protection.