1 February 2007

National Do Not Call Register Operator announced

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan today welcomed the announcement that Melbourne company Service Stream Solutions Pty Ltd will be the operator of the national Do Not Call Register.

“This is a significant step towards reducing the number of annoying unsolicited calls received by many Australians,” Senator Coonan said.

“Recognising that many Australians find unsolicited marketing calls intrusive and unnecessary the Government announced last year that we would introduce a national Do Not Call Register. Work on the Register has been progressing well and it will be operational by May this year.”

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today signed a contract with Service Stream Solutions Pty Ltd to develop and operate the Do Not Call Register following a competitive tender process begun last year. ACMA said that Service Stream has the resources, technical skills and experience to operate the register and its bid was assessed as being good value for money.

“The Do Not Call Register is a direct response to the increasing level of community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls,” Senator Coonan said.

“Individuals will be able to register their telephone numbers – either fixed line or mobile - that are used primarily for private or domestic use. Telemarketers will then be prohibited from making a wide range of unsolicited telemarketing calls to those numbers.”

Under the Do Not Call Register scheme, ACMA is also working towards a telemarketing industry standard. The standard will govern such matters as permitted calling hours and provision of minimum information by telemarketers and will apply to all telemarketing calls whether they are prohibited by the scheme or not.

“The Do Not Call Register will provide peace of mind to individuals who are distressed or concerned by receiving large numbers of telemarketing calls,” Senator Coonan said.

“Based on overseas experience, we expect there will be a high level of demand for the Register. As many as one million numbers could be registered in the first week alone. It is therefore imperative that a robust Register is developed.

“That is why the Government made a major commitment to the establishment and operation of the scheme with Budget funding of $33.1 million. The Australian Government also made passage of the enabling legislation through Parliament a priority so that the Register could be operational as soon as possible.

“The announcement of the Register Operator brings the Register one step closer and represents the conclusion of several months of detailed planning by ACMA.”

More information is available on the ACMA website at www.acma.gov.au

Media Contact: Jane McMillan - 0438 690 305
www.minister.dcita.gov.au