[Greens-Media] Nettle calls on Coonan to intervene to save Newcastle call centre

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Nettle calls on Coonan to intervene to save Newcastle call centre

06.06.07

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said today that the Howard government is
responsible for the 219 jobs set to be lost from the proposed closure of
Telstra's call centre in Newcastle. 

"When the Howard government sold the rest of Telstra it assured
Australians that jobs and services in regional Australia would be
protected. Instead, 219 people in Newcastle are set to be sacked,"
Senator Nettle said.

"The legacy of privatisation in Australia is one of job cuts, private
profits and less access to essential regional services in regional
Australia. 

"Responsibility for the 219 jobs lost in Newcastle sits directly in the
Prime Ministers' lap. Voters in Newcastle will feel abandoned by the
Howard government."

"The Greens call on Communications Minister Helen Coonan to intervene to
save Newcastle's Telstra call centre and its 219 jobs."

"Telstra's profit for the year ending June 2006 was $3.18 billion, so
these job cuts are completely unnecessary."

"The never ending quest for even larger Telstra profits puts its workers
in a continuously perilous state. The Government must protect its
citizens in these circumstances."

"The Greens support essential public services such as telecommunications
being under public ownership. Rather than sitting by and watching
Australians lose their jobs the federal government should be looking to
reverse the privatisation of Telstra." Senator Nettle said.


More information Kristian Bolwell: (02) 96902038 or 0411638320