Wild conspiracy theory China's missile test caused massive Telstra outage in Australia

By AIDAN WONDRACZ, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:55, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 02:01, 8 July 2026 One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has raised questions over whether China's missile test could have been behind the countrywide Telstra outage. The telecommunications giant was left scrambling on Wednesday after millions of customers were unable to make phone calls, access mobile data or use electronic payment systems. Telstra CFO Michael Ackland said during a press conference that a software update brought the network down, but they don't know why, and there were no signs of malicious activity. Joyce called for an investigation, going so far as to point out the outage happened days after China test-launched a nuclear-capable missile in the Pacific Ocean. 'I hope it's just a coincidence about the intercontinental ballistic missile that went into the Pacific,' he told Sky News. 'I hope there's no, you know, I don't want to be paranoid or conspiracy theorist, but we know there is the capacity for… China to affect that sort of software and that sort of network, and I hope that that's investigated and cleared as not part of the process. 'I don't want to be sort of, you know, conspiracy theorist... but I do think a diligent process is to make sure that there's nothing malevolent in this.' State-owned media outlet Xinhua claimed China launched the missile as part of a 'military training program' on Monday. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has raised questions over whether China's missile test could have been behind the huge Telstra outage Telstra was left scrambling on Wednesday after millions of customers were unable to make phone calls, access mobile data or use electronic payment systems Beijing gave briefings about the testing to governments ahead of the launch and the missile landed in a designated area between Nauru and Tuvalu. A source told The Australian the move was a response to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka signing the Ocean of Peace Alliance.  The alliance includes mutual defence obligations, stating an armed attack on any of the parties within the Pacific 'would be dangerous to each other's peace and security as well as the security of the Pacific'. The document also opens up the alliance to other Pacific nations. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles insisted on Tuesday it was not linked to Albanese's visit to the region, but admitted he was 'concerned' about China's actions. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also labelled it destabilising to the region. Shadow foreign minister Ted O'Brien labelled it 'irresponsible' and said it was 'not welcome'. 'On the very day that Australia is joining with one of its closest Pacific island neighbours to talk an ocean of peace, the People's Republic of China has chosen to lob a missile in the region,' he said. Joyce called for an investigation into the Telstra outage, even going so far as to point out that it happened days after China test-launched a nuclear-capable missile in the Pacific Ocean 'This is not welcome news. I think it goes to a very clear contrast - between what the People's Republic of China is looking at this region for, compared to Australia.' Michael Shoebridge, director of defence and security think tank Strategic Analysis Australia, warned there should still be significant concern in Australia. 'It looks like a 10,000km-range submarine-launched ballistic missile,' he said, adding that this type of technology has been developed in China since 2018. 'It can reach literally from Beijing to Brisbane with a bit to spare. It could make it to Sydney and it is nuclear capable.'