Australia’s communications regulator outlines enforcement priorities for the coming year, with a focus on consumer protection and public safety.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has unveiled its compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026–27, signalling increased scrutiny of telecommunications providers over scam prevention, emergency services, consumer safeguards, and mobile device compliance.
The regulator said it will focus its enforcement efforts on areas posing the greatest risk of harm to consumers, including disrupting branded SMS scams; ensuring reliable access to Triple Zero; enforcing protections for customers affected by domestic, family, and sexual violence; regulating mobile phone equipment; and overseeing new gambling advertising reforms.
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ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the priorities reflect growing consumer expectations around the reliability and safety of communications services.
“Communications services are at the centre of Australians’ economic and social lives. Consumers expect more from these services than ever before. And they want more help in getting access to services and stronger protections if things go wrong,” O’Loughlin (pictured) said in a statement.
“Whether it is making sure people can reach Triple Zero in an emergency, helping stop scam messages before they reach consumers, or ensuring vulnerable customers receive the protections they are entitled to, the ACMA will act where industry falls short.”
The priorities were developed following public consultation and build on the regulator’s existing long-term enforcement focus on preventing gambling harm, combating spam and telecommunications scams, and protecting vulnerable telecommunications customers.
Alongside its targeted priorities, the ACMA said it will continue its broader compliance, monitoring and enforcement activities across all areas of its regulatory remit.
“These priorities identify areas of particular focus for the year ahead, but they do not limit the ACMA’s work,” O’Loughlin said.
“We will continue to take action across all our regulatory responsibilities where we identify serious or systemic non-compliance.”
The regulator also released its Outcomes: Compliance priorities 2025–26 report, detailing enforcement actions and outcomes delivered over the past year against its previous compliance agenda.
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David Hollingworth
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.