Rudd Government cuts 126 jobs from Coffs Harbour Centrelink Call Centre

February 12, 2008

The Rudd Labor Government has displayed complete contempt for service delivery and economic growth in regional Australia, following today’s decision by Centrelink not to proceed with an expansion of their Coffs Harbour Call Centre.

 

Mr Hartsuyker said he was devastated by today’s announcement that the expansion of the call centre, which would have created an additional 126 new jobs, will now not go ahead.

 

“This decision highlights Kevin Rudd’s contempt for the interests of regional Australia and their commitment to cut back on services which are based outside of the main metropolitan areas.

“His Government has forced Centrelink into a decision which diminishes Centrelink’s level of service and dramatically impacts on the Coffs Coast regional economy.

“As far as I am concerned Kevin Rudd has blood on his hands.

 

“The expanded Centrelink Call Centre in Coffs Harbour would have seen the number of operators expanded from 162 to 288.

 

“The expansion highlighted how, in the modern world, operations such as call centres could be located in regional areas in a cost effective way.

 

“Many call centres based in metropolitan areas struggle to recruit staff, however in regional cities such as Coffs Harbour there is a pool of people who are seeking such career opportunities.

 

“The expansion would have provided opportunities for many local people and injected tens of millions of dollars into the regional economy.”

 

Mr Hartsuyker said the Centrelink cut back was another reminder of the contempt Labor Governments have for regional areas.

 

“When it comes to Labor Governments look not at what they say  - but what they do,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

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