Media release - Parliamentary inquiry to shine light on Optus' Triple Zero crisis

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

28 October 2025

Parliamentary inquiry to shine light on Optus’ Triple Zero crisis

Australians will now have a public and transparent Parliamentary inquiry into the Optus Triple Zero disaster of 18 September after the Senate agreed to the Coalition’s inquiry this afternoon.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh MP has pushed for an open inquiry into Optus and the Triple Zero ecosystem since the outage occurred and welcomes the first hearing of the Parliamentary inquiry at 8am on Monday, 3 November.

“The Albanese Labor Government blocked an inquiry three weeks ago into the Triple Zero network. But today, the inquiry was supported by the Senate. It is absurd why the Government didn’t agree to an inquiry as this work could have already been underway. It’s as if the Government doesn’t want to face accountability for their own role in this Triple Zero crisis.

“The Minister left the country as the crisis unfolded and has failed at every step over these last six weeks. This issue is not going away.

“There are reports of an Optus Triple Zero outage in Victoria’s Gippsland today where a 70-year-old retired nurse fell and was unable to call for help. Time and time again this keeps happening, and the Albanese Labor Government is not prioritising fixing it.

“Horrendous stories like this are the exact reason why I called for an inquiry into Optus and the Triple Zero ecosystem before the Communications Minister even fronted the public about Optus’ fatal outage.

“Our Triple Zero network is Australia’s most critical telecommunications service. Telco faults that come between an Australian’s ability to call emergency services should not be tolerated.

“We need to get answers for every Australian who has lost faith in the Triple Zero network right now. No stone must be left unturned during this Senate inquiry. Every telco and government official involved with the Triple Zero network is on notice – front up to this inquiry and answer the questions Australians desperately want answered.

“We are coming into disaster season, and this inquiry which starts on 3 November must review every nook and cranny of the ecosystem to ensure the safety of all Australians and their ability to call Triple Zero in their greatest moment of need.”