Oversight of the Triple Zero system has been strengthened by the Albanese Government, with legislation passing Parliament today.
The new laws give the Triple Zero Custodian the power to demand information from telecommunications providers, through the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), so it can monitor Triple Zero performance, identify risks, respond more quickly to outages and make improvements.
It will also increase the maximum penalties faced by telcos for failing to follow the Triple Zero rules to $30 million.
The laws cement the powers of the Custodian which has been established administratively within the Department of Communications since March and will ensure end-to-end oversight of Triple Zero.
These new powers are part of the direct action the Albanese Government is taking to strengthen the Triple Zero system.
This will include:
- Real time reporting of outages to ACMA and emergency services.
- New rules forcing telcos to test Triple Zero during upgrades and maintenance.
- New requirements on providers to ensure Triple Zero calls fall back to other networks.
- Mandatory improvement plans after Triple Zero outages.
- Within six months of the commencement of the laws, the Custodian, through ACMA, will issue additional performance requirements to telcos, to assure Australians of best practice.
- Ensuring telcos maintain a public register of network outages.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, Anika Wells:
"Australians must have confidence that Triple Zero will be there when they need it most.
"With these new powers for the Triple Zero Custodian, there will more active and effective monitoring make sure this vital service meets their needs.
"Telcos must be held accountable for any failures in their obligation to deliver this vital service to Australians, and a strengthened Triple Zero Custodian will do that.
"As well as bolstering proactive, end-to-end oversight of the entire Triple Zero system, these laws mean increased penalties of up to $30 million that reflect the seriousness of Triple Zero failures."
