Brandis reworks telco security reforms after industry outrage

The government therefore decided to impose new reforms which would legally require telcos to hand over any information on network changes and procurement plans that had the potential to compromise security, or face civil penalties.

But the industry fought back against the proposal, uniting in its universal opposition to the planned changes.

Australia's biggest telco Telstra, industry representative body the Communications Alliance, four other industry representative groups and the OAIC as well as individual companies all made submissions critical of the bill.

The department said the ongoing costs of resourcing and administering the scheme were estimated to be $1.6 million annually for the government.

The costs of compliance for telcos was previously estimated to be around $184,000 per organisation annually.

The Communications Alliance said it was still digesting the draft but noted the changes did reflect concerns expressed by the industry.

"[The new draft] certainly represents a more balanced approach to meeting the objectives outlined by government," the industry body said.