Xenophon calls to close Do Not Call register loophole

With more than one third of Australians receiving nuisance calls from charities asking for money at least once a month, there’s a new push to review the Do Not Call register.

Senator Nick Xenophon says the Australian register needs to be reviewed, given charities and political calls are exempt under the current Do Not Call law.

Mother of two Sarah Steen said she’s bombarded by up to 10 calls a day after completing a survey for a trusted charity.

“They’re very persistent and they’re very annoying,” she said.

“I find that if I don’t block the number, they will ring in the morning and then they’ll ring again in the evening.”

Consumer group CHOICE has found more than a quarter of Australians receive calls from charities on a weekly basis.

“People are literally being hounded in their homes, something needs to be done,” CHOICE spokesperson Tom Godfrey said.

“We’re calling for the for-profit companies that represent the charities and the charities to be put on the Do Not Call register.”

Despite pressure from consumer and seniors groups, the government has no immediate plans to change the legislation.