Australia Gets a Do Not Call Register

An anonymous reader writes: After much wrangling and fighting, Australia has finally started taking submissions on its new Do Not Call register. Telemarketers calling numbers present on this list, as of the end of May, will be subject to fines ranging from $AU1000 up to over (*places pinky beside mouth*) ONE MILLION DOLLARS (*removes pinky*). There are concerns that the new register doesn't go far enough — that people should opt in to telemarketers' calls, and also quibbling over the exemption of political, religious, and charitible organisations.

But still, an excellent start. Note that the server for the register is running slow as this submission is being typed up — it seems that this move is mildly popular amongst the population.