Federal Government Vows Action Against Optus Over Triple Zero Failures Linked to Multiple Deaths

Optus to Face Significant Consequences for Triple Zero Failure Linked to Deaths The federal government has vowed to take significant action against Optus after the telco's triple zero outage was linked to multiple deaths across two states. Communications Minister Anika Wells condemned the company, stating that it had "failed the Australian people." According to reports, the outage occurred last week and lasted for several hours, affecting emergency services in New South Wales and Victoria. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning Optus's preparedness and response. "We were not informed of the outage by Optus until hours after it had been resolved," said a spokesperson for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). "Furthermore, the company provided inaccurate information about the extent of the disruption." The ACMA has launched an investigation into the incident, which is expected to focus on Optus's compliance with regulations. The regulator has also expressed concerns about the telco's transparency and communication during the outage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on the issue, stating that Optus's behavior was "completely unacceptable." He emphasized that action would be taken to ensure such incidents do not happen again. "Optus needs to take responsibility for its actions," said Albanese. "We will work with the ACMA and other stakeholders to ensure that the telco is held accountable." The incident has raised questions about the resilience of Australia's telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in emergency situations. Experts have pointed out that the outage highlights the need for more robust backup systems and better communication protocols. Optus has apologized for the outage and acknowledged that it fell short of expectations. However, critics argue that the company's response was inadequate and that more needs to be done to prevent similar incidents in the future. The ACMA is expected to release its findings on the investigation soon, which will likely inform the government's decision on penalties for Optus. The telco faces significant financial penalties, including fines and potential license revocation. As the investigation unfolds, the federal government has vowed to take a tough stance against Optus. Minister Wells emphasized that the company's failure had serious consequences and that action would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. "We will not tolerate such failures from our telcos," said Wells. "The Australian people deserve better, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that their needs are met." *Reporting by Theguardian.*