McIntosh calls for Senate inquiry into Optus outage and stronger telco oversight
Australia’s shadow communications spokesperson, Melissa McIntosh, has urged Parliament to establish a Senate inquiry into the Optus outage that led to the deaths of four people last month. Speaking to the ABC, she argued that the event revealed both a technical disaster within Optus’ network and a broader regulatory failure by the government.
McIntosh suggested pulling
ÿevery single lever
ÿ to prevent a repeat of such an outage, including tougher penalties for telecommunications providers. She stopped short of advocating regulation for regulation’s sake, but she emphasized that fines should be doubled and that the triple-zero (000) emergency network be listed as critical infrastructure.
“The government’s number one responsibility is to protect its citizens, and people, when they are in their greatest time of need, at the bare minimum, should be able to pick up the phone and make that call,” she said. The opposition spokesperson also called for a public register so people can see when outages occur and asked for a public, independent investigation into Optus’ performance.
McIntosh questioned the awarding of government contracts to Optus in the wake of the outage, telling ABC that a Senate inquiry could help interrogate the relationship between the telco and government, and ensure accountability. Her stance signals a readiness to pursue tighter regulatory scrutiny and greater transparency in the wake of the incident.
Critics of the plan may wonder whether doubled fines and heightened scrutiny would achieve swifter resilience in critical communications. McIntosh argued that the goal is practical reform that discourages negligence and improves emergency response capabilities, given the lives that depend on reliable connectivity during disasters and medical emergencies.
Labor Gaza ceasefire credit: McIntosh questions Albanese government narrative
In a separate interview segment, McIntosh weighed in on the Gaza ceasefire deal and the Albanese government’s public messaging. She described it as “quite extraordinary” that Labor claimed global pressure, including Australia’s, helped shape the ceasefire, arguing that the credit should go to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Insiders, McIntosh stated that Trump’s influence and diplomacy were central to the deal, and she accused the government of attempting to hoodwink Australians by suggesting otherwise. She asserted that the Coalition’s stance on a two-state solution had not shifted, even as it differed on recognizing Palestinian statehood during the negotiations surrounding hostages’ release.
The comments underline ongoing political tension over Australia’s foreign policy positioning and the degree to which the government seeks to foreground its role in international diplomacy. McIntosh’s critique aligns with Conservative arguments that the government has overstated its own influence in achieving the temporary halt in hostilities, while not necessarily reflecting allied priorities in the region.
Implications for policy and political debate
The dual focus on domestic telco reform and foreign policy branding places McIntosh at the intersection of communications policy and national security politics. If a Senate inquiry into Optus proceeds, it could prompt new inquiries into how Australian networks are regulated, how critical infrastructure is protected, and how the government coordinates with private providers during emergencies. Proposals to double fines and classify the triple-zero network as critical infrastructure would require legislative action and consensus across the political spectrum.
On the Gaza issue, McIntosh’s remarks could further inflame debates over Australia’s role in international diplomacy and the media narratives around elections and foreign policy. Her positions echo broader conservative themes about accountability, clear attribution of credit in international deals, and caution around government-led claims in volatile geopolitical contexts.
What’s next
With calls for a Senate inquiry and possible regulatory reforms lingering in the political air, observers will watch for any official moves from the Albanese government or the opposition to translate rhetoric into concrete measures. The Optus outage investigation, if it moves forward, could set precedents for how Australia guards its most critical services and ensures transparent accountability in times of crisis.
