The Manager
Spam and Do Not Call Section
Networks Operation and Spectrum Branch
Telecommunications, Network Regulation and Australia Post Division
Telephone: 02 6271 1000

The Do Not Call Register was set up in response to increasing levels of community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls. The Register is intended to regulate and minimise the number of unsolicited calls made to Australian numbers regardless of whether they originate from overseas or within Australia. Currently only residential or domestic fixed line and mobile phone numbers are able to be registered.

In the 200910 Budget, the Government announced plans to widen the scope of the Register, to allow the registration of all telephone and fax numbers, including the numbers used by businesses and emergency service operators.

This change follows community consultation through the Do Not Call eligibility discussion paper process in 2008. It is expected that the Minister will introduce legislation to implement this change in late 2009.

Visit the Do Not Call Register website to register your phone number.

Background

The Do Not Call Register was established under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 and the Do Not Call Register (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006. These acts were passed by Parliament in June 2006.

The Do Not Call Register commenced on 31 May 2007. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for overseeing and enforcing it.

In accordance with the requirements of the Do Not Call Register (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006, ACMA has established the Telecommunications (Do Not Call Register) (Telemarketing and Research Calls) Industry Standard 2007 (the Industry Standard) to govern telemarketing and research calls. The Industry Standard covers matters such as permitted calling hours, minimum information requirements and termination of calls.

See further information on Do Not Call RegisterInformation for the Public on the ACMA website.

Do Not Call Register Regulations 2006

The Do Not Call Register Regulations 2006 were made on 13 December 2006. The Regulations specify that certain types of customer service calls are not telemarketing calls and therefore not subject to the requirements of the Act.

• Document ID: 35056 |
• Last modified: 20 May 2009, 11:37am