107 Bundy jobs face the axe

Member for Hinkler Paul Neville is furious about the loss of more than 100 jobs from Salmat

Max Fleet

 MORE than 100 Bundaberg jobs are likely to be axed as Telstra shakes up its national call centre network.

The telco giant has terminated its contract with outsourcing provider Salmat, leaving the future of the locally based call centre and its 107 employees uncertain.

The company says unless another contract can be secured, the Bundaberg centre, as well as centres in Wagga Wagga, Surry Hills and Geelong, will face closure with more than 700 jobs at risk.

“We are doing everything we can to find alternative employment for people,” a company spokesman said.

“But unless alternative clients can be found these centres will be closed.”

A spokesman for Telstra said calls handled by unsuccesful participants in the tender process would be gradually wound down before the company moved to another call centre provider.

All Telstra work undertaken by the Bundaberg call centre is expected to be finished by the end of April.

“We are sorry that this decision will have impacts on our partners and their staff,,” the spokesman said.

Telstra has called for expressions of interest in the call centre contract and is now considering a shortlist of tenderers that includes at least one off-shore company.

The tender process for the new contract will be completed in the coming weeks.

Member for Hinkler Paul Neville has called for Telstra to prove its commitment to regional Australia by reconsidering the termination of the contract.

Mr Neville officially opened the call centre in May 2003, and has been vocal about opportunities it has provided for local jobseekers.

“At the time of the centre's commissioning, Telstra boasted of its commitment to regional Australia,” he said.

“This decision could now damage the local economy, coming as it does after the global financial crisis and floods earlier this year.”

Mr Neville said he had spoken to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's office to lobby for other call centre work that might be available, such as handling inquiries for the NBN rollout or the transfer to digital TV.