The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has set out its compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026–27, signalling a focus on areas it says pose a high risk of harm to consumers and where new or strengthened rules are being implemented.
The regulator said its priorities for the year target sectors where industry compliance is critical to keeping Australians “safe and connected”, including access to Triple Zero, disruption of branded SMS scams, mobile phone equipment compliance, and safeguards for telecommunications customers experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the priorities reflect what the regulator sees as growing consumer expectations of communications providers.
“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,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
“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.”
ACMA’s annual compliance and enforcement priorities for 2026–27 are:
- Disrupting branded SMS scams
- Compliance and enforcement of Triple Zero and public safety requirements
- Equipment regulation for mobile phones
- Enforcing domestic, sexual and family violence consumer safeguards
- Gambling advertising – implementation of regulatory reforms
The regulator said the 2026–27 priorities were informed by submissions made through a public consultation process, with more information available on the ACMA website.
Alongside its annual priorities, ACMA said it will continue its three “enduring” compliance and enforcement priorities, which it describes as long-term areas of significant and ongoing harm:
- Preventing gambling harm
- Combatting spam and telco scams
- Protecting vulnerable telco customers
Ms O’Loughlin said the annual priorities sit alongside the agency’s broader compliance, monitoring and enforcement work.
“These priorities identify areas of particular focus for the year ahead, but they do not limit the ACMA’s work. We will continue to take action across all our regulatory responsibilities where we identify serious or systemic non-compliance,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
ACMA also released its Outcomes: compliance priorities 2025–26 report outlining its actions and outcomes against last year’s priorities.
