Optus CEO Admits Culture of Carelessness After Triple Zero Outage Linked to Four Deaths

Stephen Rue said Optus is restructuring leadership and emergency systems after a 14-hour outage disrupted 000 calls.The Optus company sign is displayed in a store window in the central business district on Sept. 23, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images2/26/2026|Updated: 2/26/2026Six months after a network failure left thousands unable to reach emergency services—and was later linked to four deaths—Optus chief executive Stephen Rue has admitted the company operated with a “culture of carelessness.”Appearing before a Senate committee on Feb. 26, Rue conceded serious internal failings and outlined a reform plan aimed at restoring public trust after the September 2025 Triple Zero outage.