That this House:

(1)   notes with grave concern:

(a)   Telstra’s stated proposal to close its Business Call Centre in Grafton, with the loss of 108 local jobs, and the relocation of some of these jobs to Brisbane and Melbourne;

(b)   the damaging flow on effect to a regional economy from such significant job cuts;

(c)   the perception that Telstra is abandoning regional Australia; and

(d)   Telstra’s claim that it can improve customer service while carrying out a program of job cuts;

(2)   acknowledges the Clarence Valley community’s strong support for the campaign to save local Telstra jobs evidenced by the actions of Mayor Richie Williamson, the Grafton Chamber of Commerce and the 5559 people who signed my petition calling for Telstra to keep the Call Centre open, and not abandon regional Australia; and

(3)   calls upon Telstra’s Chief Executive Officer David Thodey to stop the closure of the Grafton Call Centre to demonstrate a commitment by Telstra to Regional Australia.