The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) welcomes new laws that substantially increase penalties for telcos that breach consumer protection rules and strengthen the ACMA’s enforcement powers.
The Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 significantly increases maximum civil penalties for corporate breaches of industry codes, industry standards and service provider determinations. It also strengthens the infringement notice penalty framework.
Registered industry codes will become directly enforceable, allowing the ACMA to act on breaches without first directing a provider to comply.
It also provides for a new telco registration scheme that will, as a last resort, allow the ACMA to prevent providers with serious compliance failures from staying in the market.
The passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026 now provides a pathway for access to mobile voice and SMS coverage to be reasonably available outdoors across all of Australia.
Acting ACMA Chair Adam Suckling said, “The new laws are good for Australian consumers because they will see improved Australia-wide mobile coverage and also enhance consumer protections.
“The stronger penalties and enforcement tools will further empower the ACMA to address serious and systemic non-compliance that is detrimental to consumers.
“Phone and internet services are essential. Providers that fail consumers should face consequences that reflect the seriousness of the breach.
“These reforms will allow the ACMA to act earlier and more directly, backed by substantially higher penalties and stronger infringement notices.
“The registration scheme adds a further safeguard by allowing the ACMA to keep providers with unacceptable compliance records out of the market,” Mr Suckling said.
The ACMA will provide further information about implementation of the telco registration scheme ahead of its commencement date.
MR 32/2026