We all get promotional mail in our letterbox and email inbox from businesses we have not previously dealt with.

From 12 March 2014 new rules will apply to direct marketing whether hard copy or electronic.

In all cases it must include a statement that a request to “opt out” can be made. A business will only be able to send direct marketing material if the recipient has not previously opted out.

If a business receives a person’s contact details from a third party it must maintain details of the source of the personal information it uses for direct marketing. People will be able to ask an organisation to tell them where they got their personal information from. The organisation must comply with these requests within a reasonable period and free of charge.

New Australian Privacy Principle 7 does not change the operation of the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 and the Spam Act 2003.