Do Not Call Register

ACMA releases Proposed Revision to Telemarketing Standards Discussion Paper

26 May 2011

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released the proposed revisions to it’s Telemarketing Standards and proposed that telemarketing hours be reduced 9am to 5pm to 10am to 6pm.

This represents a significant impost on business that has already had to absorb significant costs as a result of the introduction of the unsolicited selling provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

Proposed revised Telemarketing Standards

ADMA responds to review of the Do Not Call Register Telemarketing Industry Standards

09 February 2011

ADMA has called for greater focus on self- and co-regulatory solutions as part of the review of the Do Not Call Register Telemarketing Industry Standards.

ADMA has submitted that existing elements of Industry Standard need to be simplified and that existing permitted calling times are not well suited to the business to business environment and should be extended.

Click here for ADMA’s submission.

Click here for ACMA’s discussion paper.

DNCR eligibility and registration time extended

30 May 2010

The Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 commenced on 30 May 2010. The effect of the Bill is extend eligibility to go on the Do Not Call Register to numbers that are used extensively to send and receive faxes or exclusively by government bodies and emergency service numbers.

In addition to these changes, the Minister for Communications, Broadband and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy has also extended the time which numbers remain on the Do Not Call Register from three years to five years. This decision means that numbers that had not been re-registered leading up to the three year anniversary of the Do Not Call Register would not start to expire on 30 May 2010.

To find out more about how to comply with the Do Not Call Register Act click here

ADMA welcomes decision not to extend DNCR to business numbers

30 April 2010

ADMA has welcomed today's decision by Senator Conroy not to extend the Do Not Call Register to business numbers.

The decision will come as a relief to Australian business.  This extension of the Do Not Call Regsiter, if it had proceeded, would have had a significant negative impact on everyday business communications and hampered economic activity in general.

Up to a million numbers to expire from DNCR

15 April 2010

The third year anniversary of the Do Not Call Register is approaching fast and close to a million numbers are potentially going to expire from the Do Not Call Register on 30 May 2010.

Whilst ACMA and other consumer advocates have been doing their best to ensure the individuals currently on the Do Not Call Register are aware of the need to re-register, there still remains a significant proportion of telephone numbers that need to be re-registered.

With the three year expiry rule being a vital mechanism to ensure the Do Not Call Register does not become inaccurate, organisations need to take steps to train their staff to direct consumers who were unaware that they need to re-register their numbers to www.donotcallregister.gov.au or 1300 792 958

Coalition confirms opposition to DNCR B2B extension

15 March 2010

The Coalition confirmed today that they will not support the extension of the Do Not Call Register to business. The basis for the Coalition’s opposition is the legislation does not distinguish between a telemarketing call and a normal commercial day-to-day business to business telephone call.

Bruce Billson, Shadow Minister for Small Business, has said that “If passed in its current form, the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 would severely hinder the ability of small business to conduct routine business and to establish and maintain commercial relationships.”

Access Economics finds extending DNCR will increase costs for business

04 January 2010

An Access Economics’ study has found that an extension of the Do Not Call Register to include business and government numbers will cost business significantly more than it will save business.

In its submission to the Standing Senate Committee of Communications, Environment and the Arts, ADMA has supported the extension of the Do Not Call Register to include fax and emergency service numbers but said the move to extend the Do Not Call Register to include business and government numbers should not proceed.

The justification for the extension of the Do Not Call Register to business and government numbers has been privacy and productivity. Given that the notion of privacy, which is a human right, does not accrue to business and governments and it has now been shown that this initiative will decrease not increase productivity ADMA has submitted that the Government should reconsider its view on this element of the legislation.