The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has extended the requirement to introduce renewals for the first listings on the Do Not Call register which will expire in May.

The register was unveiled in July 2006 under the Howard Government to permit consumers to take them out from telemarketer call lists, excluding political parties, charities and religious groups.

It is revealed that initially more than one million numbers were listed and there are now more than 4.3 million numbers on the register.

Listings on the register expire after three years. The Australian Communication Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), which has tagged the registration requirement "a loophole", has called for permanent listings.

Several organizations have been reported to be imposed with fines and warnings for contacting some of the 4 million numbers registered on the list.

Consumers can list their Australian fixed line and mobile numbers on the Do Not Call Register, provided the numbers are used solely for private or domestic purposes, at www. donotcall. gov. au or by calling 1300-792-958.