Australia enacts outdoor mobile-coverage and stronger telco consumer laws

The facts

1. Act No. 99, the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Act, makes registered industry codes directly enforceable. Its code, penalty and infringement-notice schedules commenced on 27 October. ^[1][4]

2. Corporate penalty caps use 30,300 penalty units, three times an ascertainable benefit, or 30% of adjusted turnover when that benefit cannot be determined; the greatest applicable cap governs. ^[1]

3. Its separate provider-registration scheme needs commencement by proclamation, with a 12-month statutory backstop and a further six-month application period. ^[1]

4. Act No. 100, the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation law, commenced on 27 October. The outdoor voice/SMS obligation has a default start of 1 December 2027, subject to ministerial changes; it does not promise immediate coverage everywhere. ^[2][4][5]

5. If the minister finds disaster-roaming arrangements insufficient by 31 October, the law requires a framework starting by 1 December 2026. Otherwise, a statement explaining existing arrangements must be tabled by 31 October. ^[2][5]