Australia Do Not Call Register: Telemarketing Rules
Australia regulates marketing calls through two connected pieces of law: the Do Not Call Register Act 2006, which stops most telemarketing calls to registered numbers, and an industry standard that sets calling hours and conduct rules for every telemarketing and research call. Both are enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which applies them to callers located overseas as well as in Australia.
If your team calls Australian consumers — directly or through an offshore call center — this guide explains how the Register works, when you can call, what you must say, and how texting is handled under the separate Spam Act.
The Do Not Call Register
Australians can register their home and mobile numbers (and some business numbers used for private purposes) on the Do Not Call Register. Registration doesn't expire.
Telemarketers must not make unsolicited telemarketing calls to registered numbers unless the account holder has consented to the calls. Consent can be:
- Express — the person clearly agreed to receive calls, for example on a form.
- Inferred — reasonably drawn from the person's conduct and an existing business or other relationship.
If you're relying on consent, keep a record of it.
"Washing" your lists
Before calling, telemarketers wash their call lists against the Register. You set up an account with the Register operator and submit lists to be checked; registered numbers are flagged so you can remove them. Washing incurs fees depending on volume.
- Set up a Register accountFor your organization or the client you call for
- Wash every list before callingRemove registered numbers without consent
- Keep wash resultsEvidence if ACMA asks
- Re-wash regularlyRegistrations happen every day
- Suppress opt-outsAnyone who asks you to stop, on every campaign
Exempt organizations
Some organizations may call registered numbers, though they must still follow the industry standard's calling hours and conduct rules. These include government bodies, registered charities, registered political parties and candidates, religious organizations, and educational institutions calling current or former students' households. The exemption usually only covers calls about the organization's own purposes, not general product sales.
Calling hours
The industry standard sets fixed hours for telemarketing calls, measured in the recipient's local time:
| Day | Telemarketing calls allowed |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | Not allowed |
| National public holidays | Not allowed |
Research calls have slightly different hours. Australia has several time zones, and some states observe daylight saving while others don't, so the offset between Sydney and Brisbane, for example, changes during the year. Map each number to its state before dialing.
What every call must include
Under the industry standard, a telemarketing call must:
- Identify the caller and the organization they represent, and the purpose of the call, early in the call.
- Give information on request, such as how to contact the organization and how to make a complaint.
- Show a caller ID number — hiding it isn't allowed.
- End the call immediately if the person asks, and not call back without a new reason the person agreed to.
Text messages: the Spam Act
Marketing SMS and emails fall under the Spam Act 2003, not the Do Not Call Register. Commercial electronic messages need:
- Consent — express, or inferred from a relevant existing relationship.
- Identification of the sender.
- A functional unsubscribe option, with requests honored within five working days.
So a number not being on the Register doesn't mean you can text it; you need Spam Act consent.
Enforcement
ACMA investigates complaints, issues formal warnings and infringement notices, accepts enforceable undertakings and takes court action. It has repeatedly penalized companies whose offshore call centers or marketing partners called registered numbers, so the business that benefits from the calls is held responsible for its vendors.
Australia vs. the US
| Topic | Australia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Registry | Do Not Call Register | National DNC Registry |
| Calling hours | 9–8 weekdays, 9–5 Saturday, no Sundays or national public holidays | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, plus state rules |
| Texting | Spam Act consent and unsubscribe | TCPA and DNC rules |
| Enforcement | ACMA | Lawsuits, FTC, FCC, state AGs |
| Private lawsuits | Not a feature of the regime | Very common |
A checklist for calling Australia
- Wash every list against the Do Not Call Register before calling
- Keep consent records for any registered number you call
- Map numbers to Australian states and time zones
- Call only 9 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays
- Never call on Sundays or national public holidays
- Identify the caller, organization and purpose early in the call
- Display caller ID and end the call when asked
- Get Spam Act consent before marketing texts, and honor unsubscribes within five working days
- Hold offshore vendors to the same rules in your contracts
A worked example: calling Australia from overseas
A New Zealand solar company hires a Manila call center to book appointments in New South Wales and Queensland:
- Washing. The company opens a Register account and washes its lists; registered numbers without consent are removed.
- Time zones. In summer, Sydney observes daylight saving and Brisbane doesn't, so they're an hour apart. The dialer uses each number's state.
- Hours. Calls only 9 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturdays local time; none on Sundays or national public holidays.
- Conduct. Agents identify the company and the purpose early, display caller ID and end the call when asked.
- SMS. Appointment confirmations are sent only to people who agreed, with an unsubscribe option honored within five working days.
Common myths about calling Australia
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Registrations expire." | Do Not Call Register registrations don't expire. |
| "Saturday hours are the same as weekdays." | Saturday calls end at 5 p.m. |
| "Sunday is allowed if they agreed." | The industry standard doesn't allow telemarketing calls on Sundays. |
| "Offshore callers aren't covered." | ACMA applies the rules to calls into Australia. |
Key terms
- ACMA: the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
- Washing: checking a list against the Do Not Call Register.
- Industry standard: the rules on calling hours and conduct for telemarketing and research calls.
- Inferred consent: consent reasonably drawn from conduct and an existing relationship.
- Spam Act: the law governing commercial emails and text messages.
Frequently asked questions
Can telemarketers call numbers on Australia's Do Not Call Register?
Not unless the account holder has consented to the calls, or the caller is an exempt organization calling for its own purposes. Telemarketers must wash their lists against the Register before calling.
What are telemarketing hours in Australia?
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, in the recipient's local time. Telemarketing calls aren't allowed on Sundays or national public holidays.
Does the Do Not Call Register expire?
No. Registrations don't expire.
Do the rules apply to call centers outside Australia?
Yes. The rules apply to calls made to Australian numbers, and ACMA has taken action against businesses whose overseas call centers broke them.
Are marketing texts covered by the Do Not Call Register?
Marketing texts are covered by the Spam Act 2003, which requires consent, sender identification and a working unsubscribe option.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check current ACMA guidance before calling Australia.