Calls from political parties, independent members of parliament, candidates for election, or interest groups (including trade unions) are permitted in certain circumstances.
What calls can you receive?
If a call is not commercial, it is not a telemarketing call and can be made to anyone, even if they are on the Do Not Call Register. Most political calls are not telemarketing calls. This includes recorded messages (sometimes called ‘robo-calls’).
Research calls can also be made to numbers on the Do Not Call Register. So you may, for example, receive polling or research calls about a political issue or election.
Further, political parties, independent members of parliament and candidates in an election are allowed to make telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register.
What rules do apply to these calls?
Research calls about a political issue, or commercial calls from a political party, independent member of parliament or a candidate for election, must follow strict rules under the Telecommunications (Telemarketing and Research Calls) Industry Standard 2017.
You can complain about these calls if the caller does not:
- identify themselves
- provide current and accurate contact information on request
- enable the calling number to be displayed on your phone (and be able to receive a return call)
- terminate the call when you ask
- call within the following permitted calling times:
| Type of Call | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday | National Public Holidays |
| Telemarketing | 9:00am - 8:00pm | 9:00am - 5:00pm | No calls allowed | No calls allowed |
| Opinion polling | 9:00am - 8:30pm | 9:00am - 5:00pm | 9:00am - 5:00pm | No calls allowed |