Following on from a Discussion Paper last year, the Minister for
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen
Coonan, has announced that a national, legislated Do Not Call register will be created in 2007 to protect
consumers from nuisance telemarketing phone calls.

The Government expects that there
will be one million registrations in the first week of operation and
four million after the Register’s first year.

The Register will apply to all telemarketers operating in
Australia, as well as those overseas telemarketers who represent
Australian companies. Enforcement
options will include warnings, fines, formal directions and financial
penalties.

The legislation will also establish national minimum contact standards for telemarketers.The standards will cover permitted calling hours, minimum
information requirements and termination of calls.

The register will be open to individuals and small businesses who can opt out from receiving unsolicited telemarketing
calls. Once a telephone number is registered, it will be prohibited for
telemarketers to contact that number.

A limited range of exemptions will apply, for example, to charity groups
and people undertaking social research. Exemptions will also apply to
companies with an existing business relationship with an individual,
for example with existing accounts or contracts.

Individuals and small businesses will not be required to pay
a fee for registering their telephone numbers. Telemarketers will
contribute to the costs of running the scheme through the payment of
subscription fees to access the register.