Do Not Call Register: How to Stop Telemarketing Calls in Australia

The Do Not Call Register is a free government service that stops most legitimate telemarketing calls to your number. It’s run by the ACMA, takes a few minutes to set up, and is the right tool for unwanted marketing calls — though it won’t stop scammers, who ignore it entirely.

What the Do Not Call Register is

The Do Not Call Register is a national database of Australian numbers — mobile, landline, and VoIP — whose owners have opted out of telemarketing. By law, registered Australian businesses and the telemarketers they hire must not make unsolicited sales or marketing calls to numbers on the register. It’s administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

How to register your number

  1. Go to donotcall.gov.au and choose Register a number (or call 1300 792 958).
  2. Enter the number you want to register and an email address. You can register up to a small batch of personal numbers at once.
  3. Confirm via the verification email or SMS you receive.
  4. Registration takes effect within about 30 days. It does not expire — registrations are now permanent unless you remove the number.

What it does and doesn’t cover

Covered (these should stop)

  • Unsolicited telemarketing and sales calls from Australian businesses.
  • Marketing faxes to registered numbers.

Not covered (these can still call)

  • Registered charities, political parties, and educational institutions.
  • Market and social research calls.
  • Businesses you have an existing relationship with, or that you’ve consented to hear from.
  • Scammers and overseas operations — they break the law anyway and the register doesn’t reach them.

Why am I still getting calls after registering?

  • It’s within the 30-day window — give it up to a month to take effect.
  • The caller is exempt — a charity, research firm, or a business you’ve dealt with.
  • You consented previously — ticking a box or entering a competition can count as consent. You can withdraw it by telling the business to stop.
  • It’s a scam, not telemarketing — the register can’t stop these. Use call blocking and report them instead.

If a telemarketer keeps calling a registered number, you can complain to the ACMA. To see numbers others have reported as nuisance marketing, browse telemarketing numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Do Not Call Register free?
Yes. Registering your number is completely free, and registrations no longer expire — your number stays on the register until you remove it.
Why am I still getting telemarketing calls after registering?
It can take up to 30 days to take effect. Some callers are also exempt — charities, research firms, political parties, and businesses you already deal with or consented to. And scammers ignore the register entirely.
Does the Do Not Call Register stop scam calls?
No. The register only binds law-abiding Australian marketers. Scam callers break the law regardless, so you need call blocking and reporting for those.

Last updated 2026-06-27. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.