Written by 
Technicians visiting towers to carry out maintenance have now been told to check all nuts and bolts for any signs of tampering while on site.
A government briefing paper estimates telecommunications companies spent almost $8 million in 2020 repairing damage caused by 5G conspiracy theorists, including replacing towers and other communications infrastructure.
Companies have been lobbying the government to increase criminal penalties for damaging critical infrastructure and the Department of Home Affairs says it is consulting businesses and government agencies about the issue.
Vandals are removing the nuts off bolts anchoring towers to their base.
It’s one reason Australia needs laws to stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation, according to the government. A Senate committee is examining a controversial bill introduced last month to combat such behaviour.
A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the security of telecommunications infrastructure was the responsibility of providers, but there were harsh penalties for those who damaged it, including imprisonment.
Service providers lease mobile phone towers from infrastructure companies such as Amplitel (majority-owned by Telstra) and Indara, which did not respond to a request for comment.
Cables are torn away when the towers fall.
Vodafone/TPG said such vandalism was “an incredibly dangerous and criminal activity that places our people, members of the public, and essential services at risk”. Telstra/Amplitel said such attacks also posed a safety threat to vulnerable customers. Optus said it was working with police in relation to the attacks.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.