Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025; Third Reading

Summary

This legislation strengthens protections for people using phone, internet, and pay-TV services by amending the Telecommunications Act 1997 to give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) stronger enforcement powers and require telecommunications companies to meet tougher customer service standards. The changes address growing complaints about poor service quality, misleading billing practices, and inadequate complaint handling by making it easier for regulators to penalise breaches and forcing companies to act faster when customers have problems. For everyday Australians, this means better access to compensation when things go wrong, clearer information about what you're paying for, and faster resolution of service issues without having to fight with your provider.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed