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I begin by acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of this land and pay my respects to the Elders both past and present. 

I would particularly like to acknowledge Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker as co-chair of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.

I’d also like to acknowledge my parliamentary colleague, Senator Sarah Henderson.

I am delighted to be here today representing Minister Wells who unfortunately could not be here due to other commitments. 

Today I want to speak about restoration.

Restoration of confidence, of reliability, and of trust.

And restoration of a telco sector in which Australians can once again have faith.

Because telecommunications is not just another industry.

It's the key underlying infrastructure that powers many aspects of our economy and social life.

It connects our communities, protects public safety, powers enterprise and enables education and learning.

It allows us to remain connected no matter where we live.

And when it fails, Australians feel it acutely.

That is why today's discussion matters so much, and I commend CommsDay and the speakers that will follow for tackling the issue head-on by participating in this special session.

Restoration means repairing damage.

It means rebuilding confidence.

And it means reviving a telco sector underpinned by the three “Rs” 

Respect. Reliability. And responsibility. 

Respect for consumers.

Reliability of services.

And the responsibility that comes with that privilege of delivering an essential service.

There is also a fourth “R”.

Regulation.

Because restoring confidence in this sector will require investment and innovation, as well as stronger guardrails, accountability and a regulatory framework to meet government and consumer expectations. 

The telco industry sits at the centre of Australia’s digital future. 

That’s why, as announced in the 2026-27 Budget, this government intends to consult on important reforms later this year.

These reforms aim to improve telco deployment processes, support the removal of redundant facilities, and strengthen consumer choice. 

These reforms are about striking the right balance between investment, innovation, accountability and community.

The reforms will be designed to create a more supportive regulatory environment.

One that improves connectivity while ensuring providers continue to meet community expectations.

Earlier this year, at the CommsDay Regional and Policy Forum, Minister Wells outlined a simple but powerful blueprint for this government’s approach to communications.

It’s based on the simple premise:

No one held back. No one left behind.

Because connectivity is not optional. 

In my role as Assistant Minister, I see a lot of the country, particularly our regions.

And I see firsthand how essential connectivity is for those parts of our country. 

It’s an essential service to those communities.

Which leads to triple zero.

Later in the program you’ll hear from Professor Ray Owen, regarding the cross-network testing program for emergency calling.

It's an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work together to solve difficult challenges.

I won't steal Professor Owens’ thunder by discussing specifics, but I do want to emphasise what that program symbolises. 

It reflects the collaborative approach this Government is taking generally, and particularly regarding triple zero.

The establishment of the Triple Zero Custodian provides the necessary focus and oversight for the enormous body of work underway across government and industry to stabilise and modernise the triple zero ecosystem.

And frankly, that work is critical.

The catastrophic failures of recent years have demonstrated how fragile public trust can become when essential services fail.

Triple zero is the service Australians rely upon in their most vulnerable moments.

When a worried parent calls for an ambulance in the middle of the night.

When a family faces a fast moving bushfire.

When someone's life is in immediate danger.

When every second counts.

Responsibility for ensuring that ecosystem functions properly is shared across jurisdictions, and across industry.

And so too is the responsibility to prevent future failures.

The next phase of the Custodian’s work commenced publicly last week with the release of a consultation paper on the legislative and regulatory review of triple zero.

This represents a significant opportunity for all stakeholders to help shape the future delivery of emergency communications in Australia.

The consultation is open until 23 June, and I strongly encourage everyone here to engage constructively in that process.

There are few responsibilities more important than ensuring our community can access emergency assistance, when they need it most.

And it remains our highest priority.

Restoring confidence in telcos also means continuing to strengthen Australia’s broader connectivity infrastructure.

Providing access to high speed broadband for every post code, every day, regardless of wholesaler, retailer or access technology, is essential to productivity, economic growth, and social connection.

NBN, and other statutory infrastructure providers, are delivering on that objective.

The government has continued to invest across all parts of the NBN.

Beyond the NBN fixed line network, upgrades to fixed wireless services have enabled substantial improvements for regional Australians.

And NBN Co’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite partnership is paving the way for even better services for homes, and businesses, within the satellite footprint. 

Consumers must remain at the centre of these investments.

Whether NBN connectivity comes through fibre, fixed wireless or emerging LEO satellite technologies, Australians expect services that are reliable, affordable and accessible. 

The NBN continues to play a central role in delivering those outcomes.

By the end of 2030, at least 94 percent of premises within the NBN fixed line footprint will be able to access multi-Gigabit speeds.

This will be achieved through combined investments by this Government and NBN Co.

As of December 2025, an extra 1.5 million fibre-to-the-node premises now have access to full fibre upgrades – including more than 660,000 in regional communities.

That transformation was supported by $2.4 billion of Australian Government funding and has expanded high speed broadband access to more than 10 million homes and businesses.

This work continues today.

To complete the upgrade of all remaining fibre-to-the-node premises by 2030, NBN Co is now progressing upgrade pathways to more than 600,000 additional premises – including around 334,000 in regional Australia –supported by up to $3 billion in government funding.

In my Regional Development portfolio, this really matters.

Because fast and reliable connectivity should never depend on your postcode. 

The Government has a focus on improving NBN services so that Australians living in regional rural and remote communities have opportunities to participate fully in the digital economy, as do those living in our major cities. 

Here, I want to call out NBN Co’s partnership with Amazon to deliver LEO satellite broadband services.

It will provide a modern and higher speed connectivity choice for regional homes and businesses.

And, it will further strengthen the overall quality of our communications infrastructure.

The Government is also pursuing another transformative reform—the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation, or UOMO. 

The framework legislation is currently before parliament.

It will expand mobile coverage and choice across regional and remote Australia. 

It will deliver baseline outdoor mobile coverage nationwide and provide substantial public safety benefits— with improved access to triple zero.

Mobile operators are expected to meet the UOMO using a combination of existing terrestrial and direct-to-device technology. 

It will create a safety net for Australians that live, work or travel beyond terrestrial coverage.

I am pleased to say that the UOMO already has strong support.

This was evident from recent contributions from industry, consumers and regional communities to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the bill.

I am pleased to see the committee has recommended the bill be passed. 

The UOMO sends a clear signal to industry: the Government wants direct-to-device services delivered in Australia.

We want competition in this market.

And we expect timely and fair delivery.

While mobile operators have publicly indicated an intention to offer direct- to-device services, the UOMO introduces accountability.

And broad standards powers will enable the minister to act, if industry does not deliver for consumers. 

Now, telecom reform is not only about infrastructure.

It's also about inclusion.

The government remains firmly committed to achieving Target 17 under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

That means equal levels of digital inclusion for first nations Australians by 2026. 

This commitment reveals an important truth: digital exclusion is now an extension of socio-economic exclusion. 

That’s why we established the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.

And that’s why we released the First Nations Digital Inclusion Road Map in late 2024.

Targeted programs are now delivering support through a range of initiatives including free community wifi across more than 70 remote communities.

Achieving Target 17 will require ongoing partnership.

Between government, industry, and, at the very centre, first nations communities.

Because consumers must always come first. 

And they must have the appropriate protections.

To support this, we’re taking steps to ensure the regulator, ACMA, has the right tools and settings to play its critical role in consumer safeguards.

The Enhancing Consumer Safeguards Bill, which is due for debate in the senate, will give stronger compliance and enforcement tools to ACMA. 

It’s been already widely supported by both consumer and industry groups—and I thank you for that.

Which brings me back to this forum’s theme of restoring public confidence in telecommunications.

Australians are asking for reliability, accountability, and respect.

I know that Minister Wells has already outlined the government's vision for the communications sector to many of you.

It's worth reinforcing again today.

A vision of universal outdoor mobile coverage as soon as technology allows. 

Improved regional and remote connectivity.

High speed broadband for every postcode, every day.

Place-based solutions delivering local benefit.

Effective Spectrum management today, while preparing for tomorrow.

Embracing low earth orbit satellite technologies and fostering competition.

Using regulation to improve transparency, accountability and trust, while removing unnecessary barriers to innovation.

And above all, placing Australians at the centre of every decision.

Telecommunications are about people.

And restoring trust will require more than announcements.

It requires action. 

I hope today's session is an important step in a broader renewal of the telecom sector.

Rebuilding trust is tough, but Australians deserve nothing less.

So, let’s use forums like this to have the difficult conversations.

Restoration is entirely possible and we are truly optimistic about this sector. 

We believe the Australian telco sector has the opportunity to enter a new era defined by respect, reliability, and responsibility.

Thank you.