Coalition to oppose Do Not Call changes

James Riley
Friday, 12 March 2010 17:56

IT Policy - Regulation

The proposed extensions to the Do Not Call register would be a cost burden and a "compliance nightmare" for small business, and the Coalition will oppose the legislation in the Senate, shadow small business spokesman Bruce Billson says.

In a joint-statement with communications spokesman Tony Smith, Mr Billson said the Bill would be harmful to Australian small business.

Opposing the Do Not Call extensions – which would enable businesses to register to block unwanted cold calls – will do nothing to dispel Government claims that the Opposition is being obstructionist in the Senate.

The strategy also ratchets up the pressure on Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who is facing problems in the next two weeks with his telecommunication reforms, the internet filtering scheme, and now the Do Not Call register extension. The Do Not Call Scheme is administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The draft Do Not Call extensions have been through a formal public consultation through the Senate standing committee on the Environment, Communications and the Arts, which recommended that it be passed by the chamber – albeit it with Coalition providing dissenting comments in the final report.

"Labor's legislation does not distinguish between a telemarketing call and normal commercial day-to-day business to business telephone calls," Mr Smith said.

"If passed in its current form, the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 would severely hinder the ability of small businesses to conduct routine business and to establish and maintain commercial relationships," Mr Billson said. 

The Coalition senators on the Communications committee had complained that the cost burden of compliance was too high, and that the definitions within the draft legislation would have an impact on legitimate business-to-business activities.