13/05/2008 -
CEPU Highlights Skills Shortages
The CEPU has told an inquiry into
Australian regional and rural telecommunications services
that skill shortages are contributing to network problems in
these areas.
Branch Organiser Shane Murphy, who reported to the inquiry
on behalf of the Union, has also warned that without greater
investment in training and in quality jobs, the
telecommunications industry will not be able to deliver the
high speed National Broadband Network (NBN) that Labor is
committed to building. The Regional Telecommunications
Review is being held as part of processes set up by the
Howard Government at the time of the final privatisation of
Telstra.
Under a privatisation package designed to win support from
the National Party, such reviews were to be held by an
independent committee every three and a half years, with any
recommendations they made to be funded out of the $2 billion
Communications Fund.
The current review started last year and events, including a
federal election, have somewhat overtaken it since.
Labor now plans to roll the Communications Fund into its NBN
project and guarantee services to “the bush” this way. All
the same, the Government has extended the timetable for the
review and appears to be happy to use it as a sounding board
for regional and rural problems.
The Union’s submission focuses on the impacts of
privatisation and cost-cutting on the quality of the
telecommunications infrastructure in these areas, on working
conditions in the industry and on overall telecommunications
skill levels.
The CEPU believes that the NBN project offers an opportunity
for the Government and industry to address these issues and
hopes to win support from the Review committee for this
view.
Authorised by Jim Metcher, State Secretary
Site designed and maintained by Nathan Metcher, Branch Official.
CEPU NSW Postal & Telecommunications Branch 2008
