I try to shoehorn various activities into my day, some of which involves my public transport advocacy work. While I end up doing some of the media, the load is shared, and others do a lot of policy work which makes it pretty easy — once the policy’s been nutted out, as long as you know what it is, you generally know what to say.

As I’ve commented before, the whole thing has led me to experience and learn new things. Even after three years doing it, sometimes it brings some new situations.

On Tuesday (State Budget day) I went up to the Parliamentary Press Gallery to talk to some of the radio people. Wasn’t really sure who I’d find. I rang the doorbell and a lady poked her head around the door. “Oh, hi Daniel!” I didn’t recognise her (I can be terrible at recognising people), but it certainly made it easier that she recognised me. Five minutes later I was doing a press conference with three journos in a kitchen. Never done that before.

And yesterday Channel 9 did a story about the Oakleigh derailment, and also a story on the Coroner’s Report into a level crossing accident. I ended up commenting on both, and (almost to my surprise) they used grabs in both stories, which ran consecutively, meaning I appeared twice within a couple of minutes. Never had that happen before either.

By the way, the Budget included $52 million for a redevelopment of Footscray Railway Station and the station precinct, as part of the Transit Cities project. That’ll be good, but I hope it doesn’t mean the demise of Olympic Doughnuts. Maybe they’ll build a special spot for the caravan, like Melbourne Central’s Shot Tower?

So the Australian Do Not Call register launched yesterday (only for the web site to fall over under the demand).

It sounds good in theory. But I’m pondering if I (with a silent line that virtually nobody ever calls except people I know) should bother joining. Apart from the fact that the registration expires after three years (yeah in three years I’d really change my mind and want to be bothered by continual callers), you can call me paranoid, but I was wondering if registering would in any way expose my phone number to the rather long list of organisations exempt from the register.

That long list is the real beef with how it’s been set up:

Exempt organisations include:

• charities or charitable institutions
• educational institutions
• religious organisations
• government bodies
• registered political parties
• independent members of parliament
• political candidates.

Can market researchers still call?

Yes. Market and social researchers will still be permitted to call when conducting opinion polling and standard questionnaire-based research. However, these calls are subject to the industry standard for telemarketing and research calls.

What a list! I don’t want to be called by any of these jokers. Market researchers exempt? You’re kidding me? They’re some of the worst! Political candidates? That means more John Howard recorded messages, doesn’t it.

Basically, I don’t want anybody to call my home number except family members and the personal friends of the people who live here. It shouldn’t be too much to ask. In general I keep that number absolutely secret. Business and other contacts only get the mobile number, giving me more control over when it’s on and when it gets answered.

Alas, last week when giving blood I slipped-up by providing my home number when asked to those nice people at Red Cross. I know they’ll probably use it to remind me to give blood next time. Whoops. Should have stuck to my “ring me on the mobile” policy. Oh well.

• A previous rant about dodging telemarketers