Interview with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News First Edition

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Let’s bring in the Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland in Canberra. Minister, thanks for your time this morning. Will you be adopting all of those 18 recommendations?
 
MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: The Government will be adopting all these 18 recommendations and we will be aiming to implement them within 12 to 18 months. I would also point out that this is the single biggest review of the Triple Zero service in over a decade. Whilst it came in unfortunate circumstances where so many tens of millions of customers were impacted - small businesses and consumers alike - it has given important guidance for lessons for the future and things that need to be done to really lift the performance of Triple Zero.
 
STEFANOVIC: Let’s explore that a little more. The report says mandatory requirements should be put in place regarding Triple Zero. So, how will that change?
 
ROWLAND: That will go to issues of communication. There is currently a protocol which, as Richard Bean points out, wasn't followed by Optus in this instance. The lack of communication was one of the biggest issues, sharing that in real time, but also ensuring that Government has at its disposal information that it needs in the case of a mass outage, to ensure that relevant agencies are notified and appropriate steps can be taken from that site. So, that's one of the key elements.
 
I would also point out one of the most important factors that this Bean Report goes to is that this is about consumers. It is certainly a feat of engineering that, irrespective of where you are in Australia, people expect and people are able to get access to police, ambulance or fire when they dial Triple Zero. But at the same time, this ecosystem takes a lot of factors to work in it and part of Bean's criticism was everyone was doing their part, but they stayed in their lanes and didn't think about how this worked across the system. The establishment of a Triple Zero Custodian framework will be very important to be putting consumers first.
 
STEFANOVIC: What about that issue of compensation and penalties? I mean, is there going to be a fixed figure that will be landed on here?
 
ROWLAND: Well, Bean went to that too, and didn't advocate a fixed figure, but did note that in cases of mass outages in other sectors and in other jurisdictions, for example, it is far easier to get redress. It's part of, for want of a better term, sort of a class action for which action doesn't actually need to be initiated. It's just taken as given that you've got so many customers and small businesses that are impacted. In this case, there were customers who weren't sure of what their rights were. They would have had their own rights under contract and directly with Optus, but at the same time, they're able to go to the TIO. Having a much clearer framework for compensation and complaints in the case of a mass outage is one that the industry will develop.
 
STEFANOVIC: Okay, a couple of other separate issues here, Minister, and it's not in your lane, but you're a member of Government. It relates to a Perth grandmother who was robbed and bashed by a released detainee. People are understandably asking why this is still happening. So, why is this still happening?
 
ROWLAND: This is absolutely shocking and my deepest condolences to those who've been impacted here. It is completely unacceptable. I am aware that this is now a police matter, bail had been opposed, but in this instance, this person was able to gain access and commit this alleged offence. Certainly, it's one that is completely unacceptable. I know the bail systems of States and Territories are under scrutiny here, but if we ever needed evidence for that, I think we've got it.
 
STEFANOVIC: Why are temporary protection orders still not being used?
 
ROWLAND: We know that there is a high threshold in order to make applications in order to get redress in this area. I am aware that, as I said, that threshold is high and it needs to be got right. So, I know that the Government will be taking action and I know my colleagues will have more to say on that in the near future.
 
 
STEFANOVIC: All right, and just a final one here, Minister. In Opposition, you took great delight - you and others took great delight - in attacking Scott Morrison over his issues with female anger. Anthony Albanese is now getting hit by the karma bus, so to speak. Has the Prime Minister got a misogyny problem of his own?
 
ROWLAND: I think the most important thing here is that the issue of violence against women, gender-based violence, is one that is seen as a national issue, that all States, Territories and the Commonwealth must take collective responsibility for. The fact that so many people took to the streets over the weekend, the Prime Minister being one of them, to say that enough is enough, demonstrates that there is real momentum here for change. I think that the focus of all leaders, including all Parliamentarians, should be on ensuring that we get action here. We have a National Plan for ending violence against women that requires cooperation across the Commonwealth. We should ensure that that is given and that it is implemented.
 
STEFANOVIC: Do you think his actions at the rally were regrettable on Sunday afternoon?
 
ROWLAND: I am glad that the Prime Minister went to that rally. I'm glad he demonstrated his solidarity with the need to end violence against women. I think that his presence there was important for a lot of people, it was important to show leadership that this is being taken with the utmost seriousness.
 
We will be judged as a Government, and all Governments and Parliamentarians and people in authority will be judged on whether we actually make a difference. As we see, the unacceptable statistics of people who are much more than statistics - these are real lives - that have been robbed from people. We need to ensure that everything is being done across Government to implement that and to make sure that we do eliminate this gender-based violence.
 
STEFANOVIC: Michelle Rowland, thank you for your time.