# Cold Calling Laws in Australia (2026): Hours and Rules

Yes. Cold calling is legal in Australia, including calls to businesses. Business phone numbers can't be put on the Do Not Call Register, but every telemarketing call has to follow the Telemarketing and Research Calls Industry Standard: calls only between 9am and 8pm on weekdays and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays, caller ID switched on, and the call ended when asked.

Reviewed October 2026. A plain summary for business-to-business calls, not legal advice.

| Rule | Summary |
|---|---|
| B2B cold calls | Allowed |
| Do Not Call Register | For personal numbers. Business phone numbers can't be registered |
| Calling hours | Weekdays 9am to 8pm, Saturdays 9am to 5pm, no Sundays or national public holidays |
| At the start of the call | Your employer's name, the purpose of the call and who it's for |
| Caller ID | Must be switched on, with the number reachable for 30 days |
| Regulators | ACMA (calls) and the OAIC (privacy) |

## Which laws cover cold calling in Australia?

- The Do Not Call Register Act 2006, which sets up the register and bans calls to registered numbers without consent.
- The Telecommunications (Telemarketing and Research Calls) Industry Standard 2017, which sets calling hours and what callers must say and do.
- The Privacy Act 1988 and its Australian Privacy Principles, which cover the personal information you use for direct marketing.
- The Spam Act 2003 covers emails and text messages, not live calls.

## Is B2B cold calling legal in Australia?

Yes. The Do Not Call Register says business telephone numbers aren't eligible for registration, so you don't need to check business lines against it. But the Industry Standard applies to everyone who makes or arranges telemarketing calls, including calls to numbers that aren't on the register, so its calling hours and rules apply to B2B calls too.

## What are the legal cold calling hours in Australia?

Unless the person has agreed to a call at another time, the Industry Standard allows calls only at these times:

| Day | Telemarketing calls | Research calls |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 9am to 8pm | 9am to 8:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am to 5pm | 9am to 5pm |
| Sunday | No calls | 9am to 5pm |
| National public holidays | No calls | No calls |

## What callers must do

- Say early in the call who you work for, why you're calling and who the call is for.
- Switch on caller ID, and keep the number you call from reachable for at least 30 days.
- End the call straight away if the person asks, or makes clear they don't want to go on.
- Never call a number on the Do Not Call Register without consent. If a contact may be on a personal mobile, check the number first.

## The Privacy Act and direct marketing

Australian Privacy Principle 7 says an organisation may only use or disclose personal information for direct marketing if certain conditions are met, including giving people a simple way to opt out. The Privacy Act mostly covers businesses with an annual turnover above $3 million, along with some smaller ones.

## Who enforces the rules?

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces the Do Not Call Register and the Industry Standard. It can give formal warnings and infringement notices and take businesses to court. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) enforces the Privacy Act.

## Can you call a lead who asked you to?

Allowed with their consent (3 months, unless they agreed to a longer period).

- You can call a number on the Do Not Call Register if the account holder consented. Express consent means they specifically agreed to telemarketing calls; consent can also be inferred from an existing business relationship.
- Express consent given without a set period expires three months after it was given.
- Consent ends immediately when they say they no longer want calls from you.

Sources: [Do Not Call Register: Using the register](https://www.donotcall.gov.au/industry/industry-overview/using-the-register)

## FAQs

### Is cold calling illegal in Australia?

No. Cold calling is legal in Australia, but every telemarketing call must follow the Industry Standard's calling hours and rules, and numbers on the Do Not Call Register can't be called without consent.

### Can I cold call businesses in Australia?

Yes. Business phone numbers can't be put on the Do Not Call Register, so B2B calls don't need checking against it. The Industry Standard's calling hours and rules still apply.

### What are the cold calling hours in Australia?

Weekdays 9am to 8pm and Saturdays 9am to 5pm. No telemarketing calls on Sundays or national public holidays, unless the person has agreed to a call at that time.

### Can you cold call on a Sunday in Australia?

Not for telemarketing. The Industry Standard bans telemarketing calls on Sundays and national public holidays. Research calls are allowed on Sundays from 9am to 5pm.

### Does the Spam Act apply to cold calls?

No. The Spam Act covers commercial emails and text messages. Live telemarketing calls are covered by the Do Not Call Register Act and the Industry Standard.

## Sources

- [ACMA Do Not Call Register: Industry standards](https://www.donotcall.gov.au/industry/industry-overview/industry-standards)
- [Do Not Call Register: Consumer overview](https://www.donotcall.gov.au/consumers/consumer-overview/)
- [OAIC: Australian Privacy Principles quick reference](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-quick-reference)

Page: https://switchstack.io/cold-calling-laws/australia
Cold calling services in this market: https://switchstack.io/cold-calling-services/australia