11. CLARE CURRAN (Labour—Dunedin South) Link to this
to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology
Does he stand by his statement: “The government wants to ensure New Zealand has a skilled and productive workforce.”; if so, does he believe this should apply to the information and technology industry?
Hon STEVEN JOYCEIn light of Telecom’s decision to contract out the work done by its telecommunication engineers, does the Minister agree that the industry is now running the risk of losing many skilled engineers? Should not the Government be doing something about it to ensure New Zealand has the capability for the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband?
It is not my role as Minister to comment on specific private contracting relationships between private companies. Telecom, of course, is a private company, having being sold by a previous Government.
Louise UpstonWhat is the Government doing to ensure that New Zealand has a skilled and productive workforce with good information and communications technology skills suited to the 21st century?
The National Government knows digital literacy across our population—along with smart, connected communities—is critical to this country’s future. To this end, the Government has given a $3 million boost to the Computers in Homes programme, which will empower over 1,600 families throughout the country who do not currently use the Internet to bridge the digital divide. We have also given over $1 million in support of the expansion of the Computer Clubhouse programme, and we have made $34 million available in this year’s Budget for upgrading school computer networks to prepare schools for the ultra-fast broadband initiative.
Will the Minister deny that as a result of Telecom’s contracting out of engineering, those engineers could have their income cut by 50 to 66 percent; and will he take action to prevent New Zealand telecommunications engineers leaving for higher incomes in Australia?
Once again, I am not, as Minister, able to comment on specific private contracting relationships. I understand that Chorus recently signed contracts with three service provider companies to provide the workforce that Chorus relies on. In an industry where the norm is for 2 to 3-year contracts, Chorus has committed to 10-year contracts worth a total of around $3 billion to provide long-term certainty and confidence within the telecommunications industry.
Why did the Minister tell the Commerce Committee that an industry training organisation needs to be driven by the information and communications technology industry itself when it is now becoming abundantly clear that Telecom’s decision will see a severe skills shortage in the industry?