Printing Industries is encouraging members to participate in a cross industry survey on Federal Government proposals to extend the "Do Not Call Register" to allow all business, government, fax numbers and emergency service numbers to go on the register.

Printing Industries National Manager for Policy and Government Affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said that while an initial reaction is that this is a good initiative what it actually means is that any phone call made by a business that involves the promotion, advertising or offer to supply any good, service, business opportunity, supplier, investment opportunity or land will be affected.

"Businesses will be prevented from making these types of phone calls to any number on the Do Not Call Register and they will need to check every number before making a phone call of this nature against the "Do Not Call Register" before dialling," he said.

Printing Industries has already written to Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy expressing its concerns about the proposed extension of the "Do Not Call Register”.

"Members are encouraged to participate in this industry survey which has been designed to quantify the consequences for business if the "Do Not Call Register" is extended to include business and government numbers.

"This survey has been commissioned by the Australian Direct Marketing Association but is being distributed by Printing industries because this is not a direct marketing issue, it’s a commerce issue. Please note that both ADMA and Printing Industries support the extension of the "Do Not Call Register" to include fax numbers and emergency service numbers."

The survey in an Excel format can be accessed via this link and should be sent back to Access Economics by 8 January 2010 to make sure the impact to your business is taken into account. (Please note - you may have to 'enable macros' when you open the document. There will be a prompt at the top left hand side of the datasheet if this is necessary on your computer.