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

I thank Senator Fielding for the question. The first point I would make about that is that, whilst I have publicly stated that I have a good deal of sympathy for anyone whose job is under threat, Telstra is a commercial company and it has been a commercial company and run as such in effect since the Labor Party have been in government. So I do not really think that Senator Fielding can draw any connection between the full sale of Telstra and any particular job loss.

However, having said that, I do think it is disappointing that Telstra has taken a decision to close down call centres especially in regional areas. I think that is really where the critical issue is. Although we have had the lowest unemployment in some 30 years—and I think it is now 4.3 per cent—it is often very difficult in regional centres for these kinds of jobs to be replaced. So my office has had discussions with Telstra and the discussions are currently ongoing. Initially they have been very constructive and we have gone through some options to minimise the impact of the decision. The options are now under consideration and will be worked through in the coming weeks.

There are some options in relation to the closure of some of the call centres particularly the one in Tasmania, in Launceston, which employs more than 250 people. There are some other options if Telstra does not reconsider this decision. I am certainly not in a position to say what those other options are but I am very confident that we will be in a position to ensure that those who are adversely affected by these decisions will be looked after in other ways by this government. We do appreciate that a job is very important. That is why this government has been so keen to promote policies that give people a chance of having a job. That is the way in which we will be approaching this matter as it affects Telstra and its call centres.