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Telstra sends jobs offshore

Regional communities are furious at . Last year,

Local councils say the 126 job cuts in Townsville and 116 job cuts at Lismore will devastate communities there.

Lismore councillor David Yarnall called on residents to ring Telstra to protest the decision. “that council cancels its contract with Telstra and I urge other Telstra customers to do the same”.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill told ABC radio .

Telstra blames the sackings on customers using online services rather than call centres, but this does not explain its move to offshore some of the jobs to call centres in the Philippines.

Defending the decision, : “Having our offshore providers dealing with calls isn't actually new.”

The Communications Workers Union’s Len Cooper told AAP on August 22 that his union opposed the job losses and would pressure Telstra to limit the jobs moved overseas.

ANZ millionaire says cut the dole

ANZ CEO Michael Smith, who pocketed a $10 million package earlier this year, has called for a cut to the $243-a-week dole to “boost jobs”.

Smith told a business conference that welfare in Australia “is such that it doesn’t provide an incentive for people to move”. He added: So that is the difference.”

The Newstart unemployment allowance is far below the official poverty line, which is $459 a week for a single person. For many unemployed, weekly rent alone takes up most of their payment.

The Australian Council of Social Services has pointed out that those struggling to live on Newstart include some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Australia — almost 20% have been assessed as only able to work part time due to a disability, including mental illness.

Smith receives in one day — $26,575 — what an unemployed person has to survive on for more than two years.

Despite the ANZ reporting , the bank is continuing with plans to shed jobs. Earlier this year the bank said it would cut 1000 jobs, which will add to the number of dole recipients.