The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Minister for the Status of Women, Julie Collins has welcomed the move by Telstra to waive its silent line fees for victims of domestic and family violence. Senator Conroy explained that the issue of fees for silent or unlisted numbers was considered as part of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) review of Australian privacy laws.
“I am pleased that Telstra has listened to their customers and taken this important step in protecting the privacy of some of Australia’s most vulnerable people,” Senator Conroy said. Senator Conroy added “I expect other providers who charge silent number fees to do the same to protect victims of domestic and family violence.”
Minister Collins commented that Telstra’s provision of free calls from mobiles and landlines to 1800RESPECT – the national hotline for domestic, family and sexual violence counselling and support.
