TELEMARKETING

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, is supporting the Federal Nationals push to restrict the hours telemarketers are able to call, as well as supporting the idea of a more formal ‘No Call’ list.

Last week in State Parliament The Nationals’ Peter Hall presented a Private Members Bill to restrict telemarketing phone calls to between 9 am - 5 pm seven days a week to help families enjoy uninterrupted meals and time together. This was however, defeated in the Upper House by Liberal and Labor MPs.

Dr Sykes praised Peter Hall on this presentation of the Bill because of growing public concern about the unwelcome intrusion of telemarketers into the home until late in the evening.

“Currently telemarketers can legally call private households between 9 am and 8 pm on weekdays, 9 am - 5 pm on weekends, and not at all on public holidays,” Dr Sykes explained.

Dr Sykes is supporting The Nationals who at a Federal level are formulating a Telemarketing Bill to ensure families would be free of annoying calls from 5 pm every evening, not just on weekends, and to put into practice a ‘No Call’ list for those who wish to register not to receive any telemarketing calls.

Dr Sykes has approached Nationals Senator Julian McGauran to prepare a petition supporting the introduction of the ‘No Call’ list to present to the Federal Parliament. This petition will be available at Dr Sykes Benalla Electorate Office at 2/55 Carrier Street Benalla for signing.

“While it is disappointing Liberal and Labor rejected Peter Hall’s Private Member’s Bill, throwing away Victoria’s chance to lead the way for other States on this issue, I am confident that federally The Nationals will be able to restrict telemarketers and solve this issue,” said Dr Sykes.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989