Small business operators in Western Australia want the option to "opt out" of unsolicited marketing calls, according to the Small Business Development Corporation.
Small business operators in Western Australia want the option to "opt out" of unsolicited marketing calls, according to the Small Business Development Corporation.
SBDC managing director Stephen Moir said small businesses have limited financial and human resources and can ill afford the burden of answering unnecessary and unwanted telephone and facsimile calls.
A survey of the SBDC Ready Response Network, conducted to gauge the effect of unsolicited telemarketing on small businesses, revealed that 92 per cent of respondents received between one and 10 unsolicited marketing calls every week with 88 per cent of those indicating the calls were an unwelcome interruption.
"Answering unwanted telephone calls wastes valuable time and puts undue pressure on the daily operations of the business," Mr Moir said.
Similarly, unsolicited marketing by facsimile also impacts directly on the daily operations of the business by increasing the use of consumables such as ink toner and paper, and by occupying facsimile equipment and staff time.
"Rather than the overzealous "opt in" system advocated by the Australia Institute this week, small business operators should at least have the right to refuse unsolicited interruptions to their business," Mr Moir said.
"Small business operators should have the right to "opt out" of receiving these unwanted interruptions to their businesses, but any mechanism introduced to allow for this should be quick, easy and cost effective, preferably at no cost to the business," Mr Moir said.
The Small Business Development Corporation has provided a submission on this issue to the Department of Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy's Discussion paper: Eligibility requirements for registration on the Do Not Call Register.
