Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB Sydney

BEN FORDHAM, HOST: Thank you for tuning in. We're about to speak to the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland. I'd love to know whether she knows what's happening with Optus. I should just let you know that during the news break, I spoke to someone who has worked recently with Optus in their spin doctor department. I'm not going to name and shame them because I'm not sure that they are still employed officially by Optus, and I just made the point to them that when there are outages with power companies we have someone from Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy jump on the line and they say, "Okay, so here's how many homes are affected, here's how many businesses are affected. This is what we believe is going on" or "We don't know what's caused it at this stage and this is how many people we have working on it and we hope to have it solved by this time" or "We don't know when it's going to be solved. As soon as it is solved we'll get someone on the line to you." But with Optus they're not talking, they just put out a written statement. The Minister for Communications is Michelle Rowland and she joins us on the line right now. Minister, good morning to you.

 

MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Good morning, Ben.



FORDHAM: Has Optus explained to you what's going on? 



ROWLAND: It's very limited at this stage, unfortunately, Ben. We have reached out and sought advice. The understanding I have at this time is that it is affecting both broadband and mobile services. So, it appears to be a deep and significant network problem. But it is very limited at this time. But it is important, exactly as you say, that Optus get to the bottom of it and communicate it with customers because it has been a very frustrating morning for many Australian consumers and businesses so far and there is certainly a hunger for information. 



FORDHAM: So, have you received a phone call from the Optus CEO? 



ROWLAND: I have not, but what I will be doing this morning is continuing to reach out to Optus and to seek these updates. I think as you said in your intro, Ben, whilst it is impacting on the primary way that people communicate these days, using telecommunications and broadband services, I think it's important to also utilise the broadcasting channels such as radio and television, which is why I'm pleased to be able to communicate this to your listeners this morning. I think it's important for Optus to realise the anxiety that is going on at the moment. I'm out in Quakers Hill this morning, people are being affected by this. Small businesses are being affected. But Australians do want to be updated. They do have, I think, an obligation from their operator to be updated and I would urge Optus to do that as a matter of urgency. 



FORDHAM: This has been going on since 4am. We're now heading towards 8am. So, 4 hours on and they still won't talk. I mean, you know, in politics, in business and in life, communication is crucial. 



ROWLAND: It is crucial. And it goes without saying how much we rely not only on our communication services, but particularly our mobile devices every single day. I can't speculate at this time about whether or not this is something to do with some sort of cyber hack. All I do know is that it is impacting on Australians. The customers do want to know what is going on and I would urge Optus to get that information out through any channels that are possible and to do that as a priority. 



FORDHAM: Yeah, they did the same thing when they had a major data breach some time ago. Again, they were just running for cover and not talking to people. This is also impacting hospitals as well, Minister. 



ROWLAND: It is. And I know it's impacting train networks. It will be impacting a lot of businesses as well. And as you say, it's a couple of hours now and people need to get on with their days, or at least they need to plan their days as well. So, it's an absolute necessity that people have some sense of what's going on. 



FORDHAM: Well, we appreciate you jumping on the phone, Minister. Thank you for doing so. 



ROWLAND: Thank you, Ben. 



FORDHAM: Michelle Rowland, the Minister for Communications. There's a little bit of a lesson for Optus, that's how it's done. You get on the phone, you answer the questions. When you have answers, you provide them. When you don't, you say, ‘I don't know’, but at least it gives people some reassurance.