Media release - Optus triple zero network failure

Melissa McIntosh MP 
Shadow Minister for Communications 
Shadow Minister for Women 
Federal Member for Lindsay

20 September 2025 

Optus triple zero network failure

The Optus triple zero network failure that occurred on Thursday 18 September where tragically three deaths occurred shows a catastrophic failure of process and accountability.

Even now, nearly three days after the incident was first identified very little information has been provided to give Australians certainty this incident won’t occur again and that appropriate steps were taken once Optus was notified of the issue.

We now know Optus was first alerted at approximately 9:00am on Thursday 18 September 2025 by a customer of their network. It took two additional complaints and 32 hours for the public to be notified. This is unacceptable.

Today, the Minister for Communications advised the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), as the regulator would conduct an investigation. This afternoon, Optus CEO, Stephen Rue advised Optus would undertake an independent investigation of its own with more details to be advised in the coming days.

The lack of collaboration between the Government and Optus on this matter is astounding.

The Coalition is calling for an immediate independent investigation into the triple zero network to ensure the entire telecommunications ecosystem is functioning as it should and that there will be no further failures.

Immediate action must be taken to ascertain the facts as to how and why the network failure occurred and this must be done in lockstep with the government.

Australia is on the precipice of the emergency season when communities rely on being able to contact police, fire and ambulance services when they need them.

There must be no delay in answers being provided and action taken to ensure Australians are safe.