MARCH 2026
In This Issue
- Vale Murray Teale
- The importance of having a current ACMA cabling registration
- ACMA Consults on 2026-27 compliance.
- Customer Communications for Outages Standards
- Construction Skills QLD – Govt. subsidised OPEN registration
- FSO – Review od ICT training package
- Growth of DATA centres in Australia
- S0009 wiring rules excerpt
- Who needs a Security Licence?
- Useful Links
Vale Murray Teale
Murray was well-known in the Telecommunications Industry and unfortunately left us on December 5th 2025. His death came as a surprise to us. Murray was a respected technical expert and had worked in a number of roles in Telecommunications companies from Technician to National Manager.
Murray was particularly active in the development of Technical Standards and was Chair of several committees working with Standards Australia, particularly our mandatory “Wiring Rules” Technical Standards AS/CA S009 and Technical Standard AS/CA S008. He has been described by some peers as “Outcomes driven, with ethical and service policy motivation.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A CURRENT ACMA CABLING REGISTRATION
Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs) – Cabler registration
The Telecommunications (Cabling Provider) Rules 2025 (the Rules) provide the regulatory requirements for individuals who perform or supervise the performance of cabling work (cabling providers). To comply with the Rules, cabling work must:
- be performed by or under the supervision of a registered cabling provider;
- be performed in accordance with Australian Standard AS/CA S009:2020 – Installation Requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules) (the Wiring Rules);
- use customer cabling or customer equipment that complies with the requirements imposed by the Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2025 (the Labelling Notice); and
- be certified by the responsible cabling provider upon completion of that work.
It is an offence for a person to perform a particular type of cabling work unless the person is subject to the cabling provider rules or if they are performing that work under the supervision of another person who is subject to the cabling provider rules (subsection 420(1) of the Act). A person who contravenes subsection 420(1) of the Act is subject to a maximum penalty of 120 penalty units ($39,600 based on the value of a penalty unit ($330) at the time the Rules were made).
If your registration has expired, please contact the friendly team at ACRS on 1300 667 771 or email enquiries@acrs.com.au
Further information is available on the ACMA’s website, Work as a registered cabler | ACMA , including renewing and keeping your cabling registration valid, Change, renew or update your cabling registration | ACMA
ACMA consults on 2026-27 compliance and enforcement priorities
Each year, we set annual compliance and enforcement priorities – key areas for improved industry compliance.
As we look towards the next financial year, we’d like to hear what you think our compliance focus and enforcement focus should be for 2026-27. For example:
- Have you identified matters that are of significant public interest or concern that we should focus on?
- What are the emerging issues where we can encourage compliant behaviour, deter non-compliance or boost public confidence?
- Are there any technological or market developments that you think are testing the effectiveness of the regulatory framework?
- Should we extend any of our current compliance and enforcement priority areas for a further year – and if so, why?
Visit our consultation page for full details and to make a submission. We welcome your feedback by 5 pm (AEDT) on Friday 20 March 2026 .
Customer Communications for Outages standards
The Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages) Industry Standard 2024 (commonly known as the CCO standard) sets out requirements for carriers to establish and publish publicly available outages registers and obligations for carriage service providers (CSPs) to ensure visibility of these registers.
In April 2025, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced its intention to review the effectiveness of the new Triple Zero-related rules, including the CCO standard, in light of some disastrous network failures, and given that the CCO standard had been in place for twelve months.
The initial rules for customer communications on outages commenced on 11 December 2024 and now as a result of customer and stakeholder consultation, the ACMA has released for public comment, a new draft instrument titled the Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages) Industry Standard Variation 2026 (No. 1). This draft instrument gives effect to the outages register direction by setting out the requirements for carriers to establish and publish publicly available outages registers and obligations for carriage service providers (CSPs) to ensure visibility of these registers. The new draft instrument also sets out that the minimum information the outages registers must include:
- accessibility requirements (including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 compliance)
- extractability requirements
- obligations to keep information updated and accurate
- minimum retention periods for information, and
- clarifications of certain definitions.
ACMA is consulting on the new draft instrument and hopes to have it in place mid 2026.
CSQ Funded Training in Queensland
If you are currently working in the Queensland building and construction industry and want to build your skills, you may be eligible for CSQ funded training.
There is nowhere like the construction industry for opportunities to build your career.
Training is key to boosting your skills and creating new career opportunities.
Whether you are just starting out, looking to level up, or dreaming of going out on your own, CSQ supports training for workers at every stage of their construction career pathway.
CSQ funding in Queensland is available to telecommunications workers if they are classified as an “Eligible Worker” in the building and construction industry, focusing on civil infrastructure or installation services for residential/commercial projects. Applicants must be Queensland residents, workers, or apprentices, and directly involved in construction-related work.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- Employment Status: Must be an eligible worker, including self-employed individuals, working in Queensland’s building and construction industry.
- Industry Focus: Telecommunications work must be directly related to construction, such as civil infrastructure projects, site preparation, or installation of services in buildings.
- Residency: Must be a Queensland resident.
- Target Group: Open to existing workers, apprentices, or trainees in the industry.
Telecommunications workers engaged in general retail or maintenance outside of the construction industry may not qualify. Construction Skills Queensland – CSQ provides funding for various short courses and qualifications.
FSO are continuing with the review of the ICT training package. The review is focussing on 6 qualifications and their associated units of competency and Skill Sets. The completion date is March 2028 with writing of new and updated content to commence in May 2026. Further information on the timetable of activity and public consultation phases can be obtained on the FSO website at:
To be alerted by FSO of significant matters on this project you can become a collaborator by completing the information required at: https://www.futureskillsorganisation.com.au/collaborator/
Growth of Data Centres in Australia
Excerpt Electrical Connection Magazine Issue 1, 2026
“There has been a lot of discussion in the media recently about data centres (DCs), which is not surprising since there are over 200 of them located in Australia now, and this number is growing rapidly at over 10% per annum. This increasing demand for DCs is driven by the growing demand for cloud computing, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), together with more common usages like streaming TV, as opposed to simply watching free-to-air.”
S009 Wiring Rules Excerpt: Plug Terminated Cabling
The “Wiring Rules” are mandated by ACMA. The Cabling Advisory Group has discussed problems with field awareness. Australian Standard AS/CA S009 – Installation Requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules) – covers this in Section 5.9 Plug Ended Cabling on Page 35. The standard is easily googled. It covers:
5.9 Plug Ended Cabling
5.9.1 Fixed or concealed cabling
5.9.2 Connecting cords, patch cords and extension leads
5.9.3 ES3 customer cabling
5.9.4 Suitability of plug
Who needs a security licence?
Obtaining a security licence in Australia requires being at least 18, passing a police background check, and completing mandatory, state-approved training (usually Certificate II or III in Security Operations). Applicants must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or hold a qualifying visa. Applications are submitted through state-specific regulators.
The transition to licences must be completed by 19 June 2026 . You will also need to have a full set of fingerprints taken for your application. Read more
From 19 June 2025, major changes to Victorian security licensing under the Private Security and County Court Amendment Act 2024 require registration holders to transition to licenses, introduce mandatory refresher training for renewals, and mandate that independent contractors hold both business and individual licences. These changes aim to enhance industry standards through stricter vetting and new subcontractor regulations.
Key changes in Victoria, effective 19 June 2025:
- Registration to License Transition: All private security registrations must convert to formal licenses to continue operating.
- Independent Contractor Requirements: Contractors operating with an ABN must now hold both a Private Security Business Licence and a Private Security Individual Operator Licence .
- Mandatory Refresher Training: Security officers, crowd controllers, and bodyguards must complete refresher training before renewing their licences.
- Stricter Business Licensing: Business registrations cease, with all entities requiring a licence subject to enhanced probity checks (fingerprinting/criminal history).
- Subcontracting Regulations: Written consent from clients is required for subcontracting, along with record-keeping of subcontractor names and licence numbers.
- Risk Management Plans: Clients employing security must prepare a risk management plan before work commences.
- Application Process: The requirement for two written references for applications is removed.
These reforms stem from a 2021 review intended to increase accountability, professionalism, and compliance within the Victorian security industry.
Victoria Police
Each state and territory has its own licensing requirements and regulator. Most states and territories require both businesses and individuals to be licensed. Go to your State or Territory for an overview of the licensing requirements and the contact details for each regulator.