Anika Wells:

To deal with the various elements of it in regard to penalties; there is a bill before the house, the enhancing consumer safeguards built, it’s an amendment of humankind — telecommunications act and was introduced on 28 August, debated on the 4 September.

…The shadow minister for Women occasions spoke on this bill about enhancing consumer safeguards on the 4 September. She spoke about penalties on the 4 September. She spoke about her support for the increase to penalties, the increase to penalties up to $10 million and in some particular cases even more than that. She spoke in support of that work.

So I would contend it is confusing having done that on the 4 September to now bring an amendment to a different bill and object to us not supporting that amendment because we have already done this work which she has already supported in this place. Nonetheless…we can all agree surely that what happened in September was not good enough, and Albanese Government will always work to protect Australians and we will always work hold those who failed to deliver on their obligations to full account. There are several investigations under way now to this effect. In the telco fails Australians like Optus did, they will face real and serious consequences.

Real and serious consequences, Mr Speaker. There are no excuses. Telcos must deliver resilient and reliable000 services. That is their obligation under the law and that is the work we will continue to do on this side of the house to hold them to account.