Media Release | 24 September 2025
Peter Rundle MLA
Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation
Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation Peter Rundle MLA has renewed calls for Optus to be stripped of their naming rights, demanding the stadium be restored to its rightful name – Perth Stadium.
Mr Rundle said the catastrophic Triple Zero outage last weekend, which left hundreds of Australians unable to call for help and contributed to the tragic deaths of two West Australians, made Optus’ position as stadium sponsor untenable.
“Optus cannot keep splashing its logo across Perth Stadium when West Australians have lost their lives because of its negligence,” Mr Rundle said.
“The Cook Labor Government turned a blind eye when Optus’ reputation was trashed by the 2022 data breach which exposed the personal information of up to 10 million customers.
“Now, with WA families grieving and Optus admitting it sat on the Triple Zero fault for more than 24 hours before telling the public, enough is enough.”
Mr Rundle said WA taxpayers built the stadium and deserved better than to see it tied to a company repeatedly plagued by scandal.
“When the former Liberal-National Government built Perth Stadium, it was designed to be a globally recognised, award-winning venue in its own right. Selling the name was one of Labor’s first short-sighted decisions,” he said.
“Optus doesn’t deserve the privilege of naming rights to our iconic stadium, and the Cook Labor Government should rip up the contract now, not wait until it quietly expires.”
The 10-year, $50 million deal signed in 2017 is due to expire as early as 2027. Mr Rundle said the State Government should act immediately to restore public pride in a venue funded entirely by West Australians.
“Optus has put corporate spin ahead of community safety time and time again. This latest tragedy proves they are not fit to represent our State,” Mr Rundle said.
“The Government can’t sweep this aside and wait for the Federal regulator to deliver another slap on the wrist.
“West Aussies deserve a stadium name they can stand behind proudly, not one tied to tragedy and failure.”
ENDS
