WA Liberal senator Dean Smith says inquiry into triple-0 failure will hold Optus to account

WA Liberal senator Dean Smith says Monday’s hearing on Optus’ triple-0 failure is a “critical opportunity” for Australians to learn what went wrong with an emergency system they trusted — and that tragically failed.

Optus’ hours-long failure to realise a routine systems upgrade had disrupted the emergency service in WA, South Australia and parts of NSW resulted in three deaths.

Senator Smith, who called for the inquiry, will be part of the committee that grills Optus chiefs this week.

“This inquiry is a critical opportunity to learn more about what happened in the Optus triple-0 outage and other outages, as well as how we ensure Australia’s communications networks are fit for purpose,” he said.

“It’s vital WA has a strong voice on this inquiry given our state was uniquely affected, with two tragic deaths, and isolated communities who are totally dependant on being able to access emergency support.”

Witnesses appearing at the inquiry will be the current Optus Chair John Arthur, previous Optus Chairman and a former Optus CEO Paul O’Sullivan (now chairman of ANZ Bank), Optus chief executive Stephen Rue, and officials from the telecommunications regulator Australian Communications and Media Authority, including chair Nerida O’Loughlin.

The Senate Environment and Communications Committee will hold further public hearings including in Perth and is expected to call witnesses from WA Police and other WA Government officials.

The committee will issue a public report in February next year.

The motion to establish the inquiry was moved by Senator Smith and other Coalition and Australian Green Senators.

“We must not forget Labor, including all of its 11 WA Members of Parliament, opposed an inquiry like this in the House of Representatives — this Senate inquiry is finally an opportunity to deliver the answers Western Australian communities deserve,” he said.