Latest news with #Optus
West Australian
16 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
EDITORIAL: Qantas cyber attack is a wake-up call to businesses
Now it's Qantas's turn. Our national airline is the latest big Australian company to fall prey to a malicious cyber hack. The flying kangaroo is in esteemed company — other big businesses to be targeted in recent years include Medibank, Optus and some of the nation's biggest superannuation funds. These aren't just any rinky-dink businesses but trusted institutions. Qantas has stressed that no credit card or passport details were lost in the heist. But that's likely little comfort to the 6 million Australians whose details have been compromised. We are still waiting to hear the full scale of the breach, but Qantas says the expect the volume of data now in criminal hands to be 'significant'. The database accessed by hackers held customers' names, date of birth, phone numbers, emails and frequent flyer numbers — all valuable information which can be on-sold to identity thieves and scammers. If you are one of the unlucky ones who receives an email from Qantas to say your details have been compromised, you'll know who to blame when you are bombarded with scam calls and malicious texts. And while we are getting better at identifying scams, so too are the scammers getting more sophisticated. It's believed the crooks gained access to the system via the airline's Manila call centre, potentially in a surprisingly lo-fi way — by impersonating a Qantas employee and talking their way in. In 2025, customers have little choice but to trust businesses with their details online. That's where we do business. And just as businesses have an obligation to keep their customers safe in their bricks and mortar stores, they have an obligation to keep them safe online. At the moment, they are not fulfilling that obligation. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson has apologised to customers for the breach. Qantas has notified police and the information commissioner. But apologies after the fact aren't worth much. This hack must surely be a wake-up call to businesses that no one is immune from these attacks. It should be a wake-up call too to the Albanese Government that it needs to do more to protect Australian consumers. When hackers broke into superannuation funds earlier this year, draining the accounts of an unlucky few, Anthony Albanese's response left much to be desired. The Prime Minister described the breach as a 'regular issue'. Unfortunately, he is right. If you haven't yet been caught up in one of these incidents, you are one of a rare few. And with artificial intelligence giving rise to increasingly sophisticated deep fakes, the problem is only getting worse. That doesn't mean businesses and the Government can throw their hands up in surrender. Businesses need to invest more in their defences and governments must enact tighter regulations to ensure customers are kept safe from malicious forces online. Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Telco misdeeds sharpen case for Indigenous leadership
Governance failures are costing Australian businesses, with the country's second-largest telco agreeing to pay $100 million for poor conduct. Optus was recently fined for targeting vulnerable customers, including pressuring Aboriginal people in remote communities not covered by its network to buy mobile phones and other products. This exposes a serious gap in Australia's corporate governance, says Rebecca Blurton, the founder and managing director of advisory firm First Nations Affairs. Telstra faced a $50 million fine in 2020 for similar conduct after the company signed up more than 100 Indigenous customers to mobile phone contracts they could not understand or were unable to afford, Ms Blurton pointed out. "Optus essentially picked up where Telstra left off," the Noongar adviser and expert in Indigenous governance told AAP. Ms Blurton said this conduct seems to be a "regular thing" and there is little accountability for companies to ensure their leadership is diverse and includes First Nations voices. She said "vague commitments" to Indigenous governance practices and leadership, which are often self-evaluated by companies, mean blind spots will prevail. "You're missing the opportunity to highlight the gaps and the problems so you can pivot and do better in future." Indigenous people must instead have real decision-making power, Ms Blurton said, to avoid a repeat of these mistakes by the telcos. This means getting people with the right expertise onto boards and in leadership positions, and building governance frameworks that are diverse and culturally sound. "By having the right person in the right position many of these governance gaps can be mitigated," she said. "The future of governance for big corporate looks different and there's a real opportunity to embed First Nations leadership." Governance failures are costing Australian businesses, with the country's second-largest telco agreeing to pay $100 million for poor conduct. Optus was recently fined for targeting vulnerable customers, including pressuring Aboriginal people in remote communities not covered by its network to buy mobile phones and other products. This exposes a serious gap in Australia's corporate governance, says Rebecca Blurton, the founder and managing director of advisory firm First Nations Affairs. Telstra faced a $50 million fine in 2020 for similar conduct after the company signed up more than 100 Indigenous customers to mobile phone contracts they could not understand or were unable to afford, Ms Blurton pointed out. "Optus essentially picked up where Telstra left off," the Noongar adviser and expert in Indigenous governance told AAP. Ms Blurton said this conduct seems to be a "regular thing" and there is little accountability for companies to ensure their leadership is diverse and includes First Nations voices. She said "vague commitments" to Indigenous governance practices and leadership, which are often self-evaluated by companies, mean blind spots will prevail. "You're missing the opportunity to highlight the gaps and the problems so you can pivot and do better in future." Indigenous people must instead have real decision-making power, Ms Blurton said, to avoid a repeat of these mistakes by the telcos. This means getting people with the right expertise onto boards and in leadership positions, and building governance frameworks that are diverse and culturally sound. "By having the right person in the right position many of these governance gaps can be mitigated," she said. "The future of governance for big corporate looks different and there's a real opportunity to embed First Nations leadership." Governance failures are costing Australian businesses, with the country's second-largest telco agreeing to pay $100 million for poor conduct. Optus was recently fined for targeting vulnerable customers, including pressuring Aboriginal people in remote communities not covered by its network to buy mobile phones and other products. This exposes a serious gap in Australia's corporate governance, says Rebecca Blurton, the founder and managing director of advisory firm First Nations Affairs. Telstra faced a $50 million fine in 2020 for similar conduct after the company signed up more than 100 Indigenous customers to mobile phone contracts they could not understand or were unable to afford, Ms Blurton pointed out. "Optus essentially picked up where Telstra left off," the Noongar adviser and expert in Indigenous governance told AAP. Ms Blurton said this conduct seems to be a "regular thing" and there is little accountability for companies to ensure their leadership is diverse and includes First Nations voices. She said "vague commitments" to Indigenous governance practices and leadership, which are often self-evaluated by companies, mean blind spots will prevail. "You're missing the opportunity to highlight the gaps and the problems so you can pivot and do better in future." Indigenous people must instead have real decision-making power, Ms Blurton said, to avoid a repeat of these mistakes by the telcos. This means getting people with the right expertise onto boards and in leadership positions, and building governance frameworks that are diverse and culturally sound. "By having the right person in the right position many of these governance gaps can be mitigated," she said. "The future of governance for big corporate looks different and there's a real opportunity to embed First Nations leadership." Governance failures are costing Australian businesses, with the country's second-largest telco agreeing to pay $100 million for poor conduct. Optus was recently fined for targeting vulnerable customers, including pressuring Aboriginal people in remote communities not covered by its network to buy mobile phones and other products. This exposes a serious gap in Australia's corporate governance, says Rebecca Blurton, the founder and managing director of advisory firm First Nations Affairs. Telstra faced a $50 million fine in 2020 for similar conduct after the company signed up more than 100 Indigenous customers to mobile phone contracts they could not understand or were unable to afford, Ms Blurton pointed out. "Optus essentially picked up where Telstra left off," the Noongar adviser and expert in Indigenous governance told AAP. Ms Blurton said this conduct seems to be a "regular thing" and there is little accountability for companies to ensure their leadership is diverse and includes First Nations voices. She said "vague commitments" to Indigenous governance practices and leadership, which are often self-evaluated by companies, mean blind spots will prevail. "You're missing the opportunity to highlight the gaps and the problems so you can pivot and do better in future." Indigenous people must instead have real decision-making power, Ms Blurton said, to avoid a repeat of these mistakes by the telcos. This means getting people with the right expertise onto boards and in leadership positions, and building governance frameworks that are diverse and culturally sound. "By having the right person in the right position many of these governance gaps can be mitigated," she said. "The future of governance for big corporate looks different and there's a real opportunity to embed First Nations leadership."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Telco misdeeds sharpen case for Indigenous leadership
Governance failures are costing Australian businesses, with the country's second-largest telco agreeing to pay $100 million for poor conduct. Optus was recently fined for targeting vulnerable customers, including pressuring Aboriginal people in remote communities not covered by its network to buy mobile phones and other products. This exposes a serious gap in Australia's corporate governance, says Rebecca Blurton, the founder and managing director of advisory firm First Nations Affairs. Telstra faced a $50 million fine in 2020 for similar conduct after the company signed up more than 100 Indigenous customers to mobile phone contracts they could not understand or were unable to afford, Ms Blurton pointed out. "Optus essentially picked up where Telstra left off," the Noongar adviser and expert in Indigenous governance told AAP. Ms Blurton said this conduct seems to be a "regular thing" and there is little accountability for companies to ensure their leadership is diverse and includes First Nations voices. She said "vague commitments" to Indigenous governance practices and leadership, which are often self-evaluated by companies, mean blind spots will prevail. "You're missing the opportunity to highlight the gaps and the problems so you can pivot and do better in future." Indigenous people must instead have real decision-making power, Ms Blurton said, to avoid a repeat of these mistakes by the telcos. This means getting people with the right expertise onto boards and in leadership positions, and building governance frameworks that are diverse and culturally sound. "By having the right person in the right position many of these governance gaps can be mitigated," she said. "The future of governance for big corporate looks different and there's a real opportunity to embed First Nations leadership."
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Optus Sport customers to receive discounts after transfer of Premier League broadcast rights to Stan
Existing Optus Sport customers are set to receive discounted pricing to watch the English Premier League after the transfer of broadcast rights to Stan. Nine's Stan Sport streaming service will begin airing the football content from August 1, the date when Optus Sport shuts down, ending a nine-year run. The new Premier League season kicks off on August 16. It is yet to be determined whether any football content will be broadcast on Nine's free to air channels at this stage. Stan is paying Optus Sport an up-front fee of $20 million and making a contribution toward the first payment for the next Premier League rights cycles. The agreement also includes the rights to FA Cup games, Japan's and the US National Women's Soccer League. "The Premier League is the most-watched football league on the planet, and alongside the FA Cup, this acquisition reinforces Nine's position as the home of sport in Australia," Nine CEO Matt Stanton said in a statement. "We are proud to deliver these iconic competitions to Australian audiences through Stan Sport." Under the agreement, Optus Sport customers who remain Optus telecommunications customers will be provided discounted pricing from Stan. Existing customers will receive detailed information and special offers in coming days to ensure the transition to Stan is as simple as possible. Optus CEO Stephen Rue said the decision to transfer the Premier League broadcast rights comes as the company shifts its focus to Optus's core operations in telecommunications, its commitment to customers, and unlocking further value for the business in its future. "Optus Sport has delivered outstanding sports broadcasting to Australian football lovers for almost a decade," Rue said in a statement. "One of our key priorities was to find a home for Optus Sport content which would take the game forward and enable all Optus Sport subscribers to continue to receive uninterrupted access to all their favourite football action. "Optus Sport customers and the game of football will be in great hands at Stan, and we know the game will receive the broadcasting priority it deserves from an organisation whose speciality is delivering quality sports programming to its customers." Existing Optus Sport customers will still be able access the broadcast of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament, which commences on July 3. ABC/AAP
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
English Premier League to air on Stan, ending Optus' sports foray
Stan Sport will broadcast both the English Premier League and the FA Cup until 2028 in a deal its parent company Nine has signed with telecommunications giant Optus. The deal ends Optus' nine-year association with the Premier League, one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. All 380 matches of the soccer competition are now set to stream live and on-demand on Stan Sport. Nine, through Stan, will pay Optus an upfront fee of $20 million and make an upfront contribution to the next $100 million instalment of the sports rights fees to the EPL, it told the ASX on Monday morning. Optus will then make periodic payments to Nine for the remainder of the rights deal to subsidise the streaming service's fees to the sports body. Last week, The Australian Financial Review reported that Optus will subsidise $40 million of the annual $100 million outlay for the soccer rights. More than half of Optus Sport's estimated 700,000 subscribers are not signed up to Stan Sport, the company determined through due diligence. 'This marks a step change in Nine's digital growth strategy' said Matt Stanton, Nine's chief executive. Loading 'The Premier League is the most-watched football league on the planet, and alongside the Emirates FA Cup, this acquisition reinforces Nine's position as the home of sport in Australia. We are proud to deliver these iconic competitions to Australian audiences through Stan Sport.' The deal also includes the rights to the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 championship, which starts this week on July 3, as well as the Japanese J-League and the National Women's Soccer League in the United States.
