This bill became law on Sep 5th, 2024.
Transport & communications
Once commenced, Australia will have a national SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message., with the Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. required to set it up itself or have a contractor build it for it.
SMS scams using spoofed trusted brand names like "ATO" and "NAB" exposed a gap that left Australians losing millions to increasingly sophisticated impersonation texts. The bill requires ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. to create an SMS Sender ID RegisterA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. so legitimate organisations can registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. approved names and telecoms can better check or block fake ones.
By mid-2022, existing telecom rules were already blocking large volumes of scam texts, but spoofed sender IDs still let criminals impersonate trusted brands such as banks, government agencies and retailers, with reported SMS scams up 37 per cent in 2023 and nearly $6 million lost in 2024 so far. The bill, introduced in June 2024 and passed in August 2024, responded by requiring ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. to create a registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. of approved sender names so telcos could better verify legitimate messages and stop fake branded texts before they reached Australians. Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. followed in September, with commencement left to ProclamationA formal notice used to bring the law into force on a chosen start date. or fallback.
The main criticism was that the bill left key design questions unresolved, especially whether the SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. would be mandatory and when it would actually begin. Those concerns came from speakers who still backed the bill, including Coalition and crossbench members, while others stressed it was only one tool and scammers would keep adapting unless wider action followed.
Michelle Rowland MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 05 Sept 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
71 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Once commenced, Australia will have a national SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message., with the Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. required to set it up itself or have a contractor build it for it.
The registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. will list approved text-message brand names or headers that the Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. has accepted, helping separate legitimate senders from fake ones.
Businesses and other eligible organisations will have to clear a first approval step with the Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. before they can apply to registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. their SMS sender names.
The Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. can set rules to stop scam texts using copied brand names from being accepted onto the registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. in the first place.
The Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. will be able to make detailed rules about who can access the registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message., how it runs, and whether users must pay a charge to apply for access.
(1) The ACMA must establish, or arrange for a person (a contracted service provider) to establish on behalf of the ACMA, a register to be known as the SMS Sender ID Register.Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) as-passed bill text
(a) each sender identification that is accepted under subsection 484G(4); andTelecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) as-passed bill text
(1) An entity that holds an approval under section 484F may apply to the ACMA for one or more sender identifications to be registered in the SMS Sender ID Register.Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) as-passed bill text
(5) Without limiting the criteria that may be determined under subsection 484L(1) for the purposes of paragraph (4)(a) of this section, the criteria may relate to ensuring that a spoofing sender identification is not accepted under subsection (4) of this section.Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) as-passed bill text
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the determination may make provision for and in relation to applications to access the SMS Sender ID Register, including the requirement for an application to be accompanied by the applicable charge (if any) fixed by a determination under section 60 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005.Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) as-passed bill text
Context
By mid-2022, existing telecom rules were already blocking large volumes of scam texts, but spoofed sender IDs still let criminals impersonate trusted brands such as banks, government agencies and retailers, with reported SMS scams up 37 per cent in 2023 and nearly $6 million lost in 2024 so far. The bill, introduced in June 2024 and passed in August 2024, responded by requiring ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. to create a registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. of approved sender names so telcos could better verify legitimate messages and stop fake branded texts before they reached Australians. Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. followed in September, with commencement left to ProclamationA formal notice used to bring the law into force on a chosen start date. or fallback.
ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. blocks more than 533 million scam texts under existing rules
Hansard records that ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. blocked more than 533 million scam texts and 1.9 million scam calls in this period, showing both the scale of the problem and the limits of existing protections against spoofed brand names.
Hansard ↗Reported SMS scams rise sharply
Members cited a 37 per cent increase in SMS scams reported in 2023 compared with 2022, adding urgency to calls for a stronger way to separate legitimate business messages from fakes.
Hansard ↗Government introduces the SMS Sender ID RegisterA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. bill
The second reading speech said the bill would require ACMAThe regulator that will build, run and police the sender ID register. to establish and maintain a registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. of legitimate sender IDs to disrupt scams impersonating brands like banks, government agencies and retailers.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. to become a national anti-scam tool rather than a proposal under debate.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. given, commencement still to follow
Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. made the bill an Act on 5 September 2024, while the SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. framework commences by ProclamationA formal notice used to bring the law into force on a chosen start date. or fallback rather than automatically taking effect that day.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The scrutiny record says the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2024.
Considered
Collected source bundleThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The Senate received and read the bill a first time after it had already begun in the House of Representatives.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the bill left key design questions unresolved, especially whether the SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. would be mandatory and when it would actually begin. Those concerns came from speakers who still backed the bill, including Coalition and crossbench members, while others stressed it was only one tool and scammers would keep adapting unless wider action followed.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill, and criticism was limited and mostly about design and implementation.
Key rules left unclear
Critics said the bill should be clearer about whether the registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. will be mandatory or voluntary and when it will start, warning that leaving those decisions for later weakens certainty about how effective the scheme will be.
Not enough on its own
Several speakers said the registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. would help but would not solve scam texting by itself, because criminals will change tactics and broader action across telcos, platforms, banks and consumer protection will still be needed.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Rowland supports the bill because it is the next step in creating an SMS sender ID registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. to protect consumers and legitimate businesses from impersonation scams.
Read in Hansard ↗Barnaby Joyce fully supports the bill because he says it will help protect people from SMS scammers and let parliament impose tighter conditions on telecommunications providers.
Read in Hansard ↗Dai Le says she will support the bill because it is a good step to protect Australians from SMS scams by making it harder for criminals to exploit mobile technology.
Read in Hansard ↗Burnell supports the bill, saying it is a practical and crucial way to protect Australians from SMS scams and restore trust in text messaging.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
13 speakers · 14 contributions · 13 support
“The SMS Sender ID Register is a practical and crucial step to protect Australians from the escalating threat of SMS scams.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) Bill marks a really important step in our government's multipronged approach to combating SMS scams. The establishment and maintenance of a register by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the ACMA, under this bill complements rules registered by the ACMA in 2022 which blocked more than 533 million scam texts between July of that year and March 2024.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I urge the entire parliament to support this bill and show these scammers that we're taking a stand against criminals who prey on our most vulnerable citizens, and we're sending a message to the world that Australia will no longer be an easy target for their craft.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) Bill 2024 is a crucial step forward in the Albanese Labor government's multipronged approach to combating SMS scams. The bill amends the Telecommunications Act 1997 to require ACMA to establish and maintain an SMS Sender ID Register. The register will play an important role in combating SMS scams by implementing a framework for the registration and regulation of SMS sender IDs.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The establishment of the SMS Sender ID Registry is designed to fundamentally undermine the business model of SMS scammers. It will help to prevent scammers from impersonating brands and organisations and will start to restore public confidence in SMS as a communications channel. Under a potentially mandatory model, all organisations sending text messages with letter based sender IDs to Australian mobile phones would need to register these IDs. This would apply to both Australian and overseas senders. Phone companies would also have to follow new regulations which would require them to either block messages from unregistered senders or add a warning label to these messages saying that they might be scams. For the person receiving the SMS, this would prevent people from receiving a SMS from scammers claiming to be a particular company or organisation. It would allow receivers of a SMS to trust that when a text message says it's from the ATO it is actually from the ATO. Where an entity is not registered, it would require the telcos to send a scam warning alongside it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) Bill 2024 is the next step in our commitment to protecting Australians from the ever-evolving threat of scams. It is a crucial measure that will enhance our antiscam framework, protect consumers and restore trust in digital communications. I urge my colleagues in this House to support this legislation. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I particularly thank the member for Hinkler for coming along to hear this speech. I know that he as the deputy chair of the public works committee just can't get enough of me as the chair! Seriously, I rise in support of the Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) Bill, as brought to the House by the honourable Minister for Communications. This bill is an important part of Labor's multifaceted approach to combating SMS scams and protecting Australian consumers. As the member for Aston knows, this legislation is welcomed by all constituents around Australia, including by Moreton constituents who have contacted my office to share their terrible experiences with SMS scams. I'm sure the member for Aston has people in her electorate who are concerned about this and distressed by it. They need their phones for all sorts of health reasons and the like, but then they're getting scams.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We want to be a world leader when it comes to scam prevention. This bill will go a long way towards making that a reality and saving many people from losing their life savings.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill, once passed, will require ACMA to establish and maintain an SMS sender register, delivering on our April 2023 announcement to establish the register. The bill was informed by two tranches of stakeholder and public consultation by ACMA and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, which gathered feedback from telecommunications providers, government agencies, merchants, consumer organisations and the public. The register, once established, will play a crucial role in fighting SMS scams by helping Australians better identify and differentiate between legitimate businesses and scams. Scams that will be targeted by this register are those text messages that are sent using a sender ID in a message header which looks similar to well-known companies that Australians may interact with daily. There are an estimated 300,000 legitimate sender IDs in use in Australia which could potentially be registered, and this legislation lays the groundwork necessary for that registration.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The SMS sender ID register bill will require the Australian Communications and Media Authority to establish and maintain a register of legitimate sender IDs and engage a contracted provider to partially or wholly maintain the register. The bill allows for a voluntary or a mandatory register. An industry standard for telecommunications providers who manage SMS traffic will also be made by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The standard will require telecommunications providers who manage SMS traffic to check SMSs that use sender IDs to ascertain whether a sender is on the register and whether the sender is the registered party. If not, the telco could be required to block the SMS or tag it as fraudulent. Once it's fully established, legitimate businesses will be able to have their sender IDs placed on the register, which will decrease the frequency and impact of SMS impersonation scams and ensure better protections for legitimate brands. One of the problems of scams is that Australians are increasingly ignoring text messages from businesses, some of which are legitimate, for fear that they're receiving a scam message. This register will boost public confidence in text message as a communications channel.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Louise Miller-Frost on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Louise Miller-Frost supports the bill as a practical way to stop SMS impersonation scams and give Australians confidence that a text really is from a known sender. She argues the current whack-a-mole approach is failing and says the registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. is needed because scammers keep shifting numbers and targets.
“Increasingly I hear from people in Boothby about how convincing these scams are. They mimic banks. They mimic government departments, utility companies and retailers. They look convincing and, given so much of our lives are conducted electronically via SMS, email and online access, we are all vulnerable. Unfortunately, people receiving these SMS impersonation scams are often deceived into responding or taking action suggested by these text messages. One click is all it takes when you're tired or stressed, or when you're expecting a message and something comes through at just the wrong time and looks convincing, and these scammers make it their business to look convincing. That one click can put you into a world of pain, with the loss of life savings, identity documents, and confidence. But playing whack-a-mole with scammers is a losing game. As fast as one number is blocked, they come through on another. There has to be a better way, a way that can give Australians confidence that when they get a text it is really from a known entity—or they can ignore it, or block and delete.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Louise Miller-Frost supports the bill, saying it is an important part of the Albanese government's wider effort to combat SMS scams by creating a registerA national list of approved text message sender names that telcos can check before delivering a message. of trusted sender IDs. She argues it will reduce impersonation scams, protect consumers and businesses, and help Australia respond more quickly as scammers change tactics.
“This bill aims to help Australians to take control and keep themselves safe by maintaining a register of trusted and verified numbers. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This Government has made significant inroads combatting telecommunications scams, but is committed to doing more. This bill is the next formal step in creating a SMS Sender ID Register, which, once fully operational, will offer better protection for consumers and increase brand protection for legitimate businesses and entities using SMS sender identifications.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This government has made significant inroads combating telecommunications scams but is committed to doing more. This bill is the next formal step in creating a SMS sender ID register, which, once fully operational, will offer better protection for consumers and increase brand protection for legitimate businesses and entities using SMS sender identifications.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“I fully support this bill, the Telecommunications Amendment (SMS Sender ID Register) Bill 2024. I think it's really important. It shows that we have the ability to go to people who provide telecommunications and put some further licensing agreements and conditions on them.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a really serious issue. It's appropriate that the government moves in this area. It has taken too long, but it's better late than never. The coalition will support this legislation, but it is irony upon irony that the greatest perpetrator of scam texts in our history was the Labor Party, through the shocking 'Mediscare' scam. It's pleasing that, under this law, that will be unlawful in the future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“This bill is a good step in achieving that protection, so I will definitely be supporting it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The government's efforts to tackle scammers are encouraging, but we still need to do more to strengthen our systems and to resist the growing levels of organised crime behind scams. I reiterate my call for a mandatory SMS sender identification register, and I look forward to the completion of the ACMA analysis of the cost of that model. I look forward to clarification of the government's plans at the time of the third reading of this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The Senate received and read the bill a first time after it had already begun in the House of Representatives.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered
The scrutiny record says the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2024.
Considered by scrutiny committee (03/Jul/2024): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2024
Collected source bundle
