Anika Wells ridicules Angus Taylor and Barnaby Joyce for linking Telstra outages with China

Emergency management minister Kristy McBain (left) and communications minister Anika Wells address the media about the major Telstra outage on Wednesday. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP View image in fullscreen Emergency management minister Kristy McBain (left) and communications minister Anika Wells address the media about the major Telstra outage on Wednesday. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Anika Wells ridicules Angus Taylor and Barnaby Joyce for linking Telstra outages with China Kristy McBain criticises shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson for ‘testing’ Triple-zero system during major network blackout The communications minister, Anika Wells, has accused Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor of “going off half-cocked” by raising without evidence the prospect of China having been behind the major Telstra outage affecting millions of Australians nationwide. Wells’s fellow federal minister Kristy McBain also criticised the shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, after the Liberal senator said she had “tested” the Triple-zero system by making unnecessary calls to the emergency line – which carries a criminal penalty. Henderson rejected suggestions she had breached the law, which she claimed was about “hoax” calls, but McBain said “the last thing we need is anyone making test calls to triple zero”. “We teach our kids not to prank call triple zero, and I think it is absolutely outrageous that the shadow communications minister has been making test calls to triple zero.” Telstra blamed an issue with a time-keeping server for a major outage where thousands of mobile customers were unable to make calls or access data. The telco, which powers about 25m mobile services nationwide, confirmed the outage on Wednesday, with 90% of services restored after 10am AEST, but the outage also affected some triple-zero calls, and services that relied on phone coverage like train networks and even electric vehicles. On Wednesday evening, Telstra’s CFO, Michael Ackland, said the network issues had been fully resolved and were not the result of a cyber incident. Wells, who had been on leave, returned to work to respond to the crisis. She revealed the federal Triple Zero Custodian – set up after the 2025 Optus outage which saw multiple deaths when callers couldn’t reach emergency services – had advised Telstra the outage meant some callers were unable to connect. Wells said welfare checks were being conducted on people who had been unable to reach Triple Zero, and that they would demand an explanation from Telstra about the outage. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will review the incident. “All telcos, including Telstra, have strict requirements in relation to welfare checks for disconnected Triple Zero calls, and the Triple Zero Custodian is in regular communication with Telstra to receive updates on the progress and outcomes of these checks,” she said. Henderson demanded the government direct Acma to report on the outage within seven days, instea