3m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:55am
National protocol for triple-0 outages
There is a national protocol in place for triple-0 outages, WA Police has said.
“Where an outage has disrupted a triple-0 call, the carrier will attempt to make contact with the caller as soon as possible,” the police said in a statement.
(ABC News)
“Where that follow up contact is not achieved, the carrier must contact police, who then conduct a welfare check on the caller.
“WA Police are currently in the process of conducting a number of welfare checks following a recent 000 outage, notifying the relevant emergency service for their response.”
10m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:47am
Shadow minister wants ‘thorough investigation’
Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh has called for a full investigation into the incident.
“Whilst Optus is still undertaking an investigation as to how this occurred, I am very concerned the emergency camp-on arrangements that should have been in place also failed,” she said.
“There must be a full and thorough investigation into this incident, to establish how and why and most importantly — ensure this never happens again.”
18m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:39am
WA ambulance service not told about outage
In Western Australia, St John Ambulance Service has said it was not made aware of any outages.
“St John WA was not made aware of any issues involving Optus customers’ inability to contact triple-0, and has had no briefing from Optus about any outage issues in recent days,” it said.
26m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:31am
Roger Cook offers ‘deepest symphathies’
Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook gave his “deepest sympathies go to families of those impacted”.
“A short time ago the state government received initial information,” he said.
“What has occurred is completely unacceptable and we are urgently seeking further detail from Optus.”
32m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:25am
Peter Malinauskas says Optus’s behaviour is ‘reprehensible’
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas said Optus did not tell the SA government about the deaths before its press conference.
“I have not witnessed such incompetence from an Australian corporation in respect to communications worse than this,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“I cannot believe that anyone in the senior levels of Optus thought they should craft a media statement and conduct a press conference before advising the South Australian government that they had ascertained two deaths had occurred.
“I think quite frankly that is reprehensible conduct on behalf of Optus.”
(ABC News)
Mr Malinauskas said local authorities were now trying to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“As soon as information comes to light that we’re in a position to share, we will,” he said.
“My message to Optus this evening is that there will be a thorough examination conducted independently by the South Australian government on every single matter pertaining to their conduct regarding this incident
“We will thoroughly pursue every avenue we can to ensure that the interests of South Australians, and the families that have been affected by this, are preserved and protected.”
38m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:19am
Here’s what the Optus CEO said
“Yesterday Optus conducted a network upgrade,” CEO Stephen Rue told a press conference on Friday evening AEST.
“And within this process [we found] a technical failure impacted triple-0 calls.
“This resulted,” he said, “in the failure a number of triple-0 calls in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
“Our investigation is ongoing,” he said.
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“But at this stage I can confirm that approximately 600 customers were potentially impacted, of which a proportion of their calls did not go through,” Mr Rue said.
“I can confirm that this technical failure has now been rectified.
“I have been advised that during the process of conducting welfare checks [that] three of the triple-0 calls involved households where a person tragically passed away.
“Please know that these welfare checks are ongoing,” he said.
(ABC News)41m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:17am
Communications minister slams the outage
Communications Minister Anika Wells said: “this is incredibly serious and completely unacceptable”.
“The impact of this failure has had tragic consequences and my personal thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one,” she said.
“While details are still emerging, no triple-0 outage is acceptable.
“Optus and all telecommunication providers have obligations to ensure they carry emergency services calls.
“This outage will be thoroughly investigated.”
42m agoFri 19 Sep 2025 at 9:15am
Three deaths following Optus triple-0 outage
Hello and welcome to our coverage following Optus’s announcement of a triple-0 outage in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Three people died after a “technical failure” impacted hundreds of triple-0 calls on the Optus network, its CEO Stephen Rue revealed.
He confirmed late on Friday afternoon the calls were impacted by a network update on Thursday.
Two of the deaths were from South Australia and one was from Western Australia.
