Australian telecommunications giant Telstra is facing mounting public anger over a widespread network outage caused by an early morning software glitch affecting timer controls. The disruption hit transport, businesses, emergency services and healthcare, and police in South Australia are now investigating whether the death of a woman may be linked to problems accessing the Triple Zero emergency line. The incident matters because it raises serious questions about the reliability of critical national infrastructure and the accountability of the company's leadership.

Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady is expected to answer questions about the failure after returning from leave overseas, as scrutiny shifts towards executive performance and pay. Former deputy prime minister Wayne Swan criticised the company's leadership and suggested executive bonuses should be on the line, telling Nine's Today programme the public would want to see accountability. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also blamed the telco for failing to strengthen its systems. The company had sacked more than 100 people and merged two of its biggest technology divisions in a May restructure, though chief finance officer Michael Ackland dismissed any link between that and the network failure.