Court reporting jobs could be sent overseas
UP TO 205 Queensland court reporting jobs could be moved interstate or overseas as the government prepares to outsource the roles to the top bidder.
It was a revelation uncovered by Sunshine Coast member for Nicklin Peter Wellington during a Parliamentary legal committee held on Wednesday morning.
Mr Wellington quizzed the Department of Justice and Attorney-General director of reporting Joanne Bugden on the tender process.
He was told the tender process would be open to all companies to bid for the contract to transcribe Queensland court cases.
This could potentially include businesses from interstate or overseas.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Wellington said he "cannot believe" the jobs would not be kept within the state.
"I just think it's unbelievable that in 2012, this service has the potential to be outsourced to someone overseas," he said.
"I think it's wrong."
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said most government tenders were open to firms both out of state and out of country.
He said any application would be rigorously checked and the tender awarded to the most suitable company.
The winner will be in charge of monitoring, recording and transcribing all Queensland court proceedings.
Mr Wellington said the decision "floored" him.
"If this government has gone down the road with these tender documents where we see a company from outside Queensland and Australia operating this service - I think Queenslanders would be appalled.
"By crikey we need jobs for Queenslanders."
Mr Wellington said he understood the court reporters would be out of work from the end of May next year.
The successful firm will be named after applications close on January 7.
