Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Carol Brown for the question. I am aware that on Tuesday, 5 June 2007 Telstra announced the closure of 13 call centres, including centres in Launceston, Newcastle, Brisbane and Wollongong. I have to place on record that the government is certainly disappointed by Telstra’s decision to close down call centres across Australia, especially in regional areas, which will result in a net loss of around 500 jobs. While unemployment is—thankfully, under the careful management of this government—at a 33-year record low of 4.2 per cent, call centre closures can still have an impact, especially in regional areas. Senator Carol Brown asked me what I had done about it. I have asked Telstra to meet the government this week—