Coalition will oppose Do Not Call Register for business numbers

The Opposition has formally moved to block the Government’s controversial plan to extend the Do Not Call Register to cover business numbers, claiming the change would hurt small business.

Shadow telecommunications spokesperson Tony Smith and shadow small business minister Bruce Billson will lead the charge against the plan in the House of Representatives.

They are unhappy that the new laws do not distinguish telemarketing from normal day-to-day commercial phone calls.

“If passed in its current form, the bill would severely hinder the ability of small businesses to conduct routine business and to establish and maintain commercial relationships,” Billson said in a joint statement issued with Smith.

The Council of Small Business of Australia estimates that if the Rudd Government’s flawed Bill is passed some small businesses will be less sustainable as they will not be allowed to contact up to half of their prospective customers by telephone.

“The Coalition’s opposition to Labor’s flawed Do Not Call regime is designed to preserve small business competitiveness and to avoid yet another new regulatory impost.”

As foreshadowed by SmartCompany, the Government last week delayed Parliamentary debate on the Bill, which has been scheduled for March 11.

This followed consultation with groups including COSBOA. Chief executive Jaye Radisich is pushing for changes to the Government’s plan that would see the DNCR to extended to cover business fax numbers but not business phone numbers.

The Opposition has backed this strategy and will propose these amendments if the Bill reaches the Senate in its current form.

However, the Bill now appears to have slipped of the Parliamentary agenda for this week and the Opposition is not sure when it will be scheduled for debate.