Arbitrary Operational Directives Risk

The Commission can issue binding operational directives to any licensee based on undefined "national security" or "international relations" grounds, with only ministerial consultation required. Section 59(2) mandates compliance "despite any other duty" under the Act, overriding license conditions, service contracts, and regulatory obligations without prior notice or hearing rights. This creates severe regulatory unpredictability that undermines business planning and investment decisions—operators cannot forecast what operational changes might be demanded at any time. While compensation is theoretically available under Section 59(3), it is discretionary and requires cumbersome ministerial coordination plus parliamentary approval, providing no protection against immediate operational disruption.