Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane has called on government agencies to define the purposes of their registers, wherever possible. He's also recommended a law change to prevent public register information being used for commercial gain. The Privacy Act requires anyone collecting personal information from you to advise you the information is being collected, what it will be used for, who will be told and the consequences of your not providing the information. That's why most forms you have to fill out these days ask if it's okay for the information to be used for marketing purposes. If the organisation fails to respond within 20 days, or if you believe it may not have shown you all the information it has on you, or if it fails to correct any mistakes, you can ask the Privacy Commissioner to review the matter.
Telemarketing is just another kind of advertising.
You can mute the ads on TV and turn the page in a magazine, and you can also politely hang up on an unwanted call. Whatever you do, don't let the caller take control. But I get pestered by calls. Most members of the direct marketing industry don't see the benefit of harassing unwilling customers. If you want to stop receiving cold calls, contact the DMA .