Petition to Protect Australian IT Jobs and Strengthen Local Employment

Recent signers:
Stephen Crothers and 19 others have signed recently.

The issue

We, the undersigned residents and professionals of Australia, respectfully bring attention to a growing and serious concern affecting the Australian workforce, economy, and long-term national capability.

Across multiple sectors including banking, financial services, telecommunications, retail, and technology a significant number of Information Technology (IT) roles are increasingly being relocated offshore. This trend has resulted in widespread redundancies, employment instability, and financial stress for skilled professionals and their families within Australia.

For many Australian households, the loss of stable employment directly impacts the ability to meet essential financial commitments such as mortgage payments, living expenses, education costs, and healthcare. The broader consequences include reduced consumer spending, weakened local innovation, erosion of domestic technical capability, and long-term economic vulnerability.

Australia has invested heavily in building a skilled workforce through education, migration programs, and professional development. However, without appropriate safeguards and forward-looking policy, the continued transfer of critical jobs offshore risks undermining national productivity, workforce confidence, and economic resilience.

We respectfully call on the Australian Government to:

  1. Strengthen local employment protections
    Introduce policy measures that encourage organisations to prioritise retaining and creating skilled IT jobs within Australia.
  2. Increase transparency in offshore workforce decisions
    Require large organisations to disclose the scale and impact of offshoring on Australian employment.
  3. Introduce balanced offshoring regulations for critical sectors
    Ensure that industries such as banking, telecommunications, government services, and critical infrastructure maintain a strong domestic workforce presence.
  4. Support workforce transition and reskilling programs
    Expand government-funded initiatives that help affected professionals transition into emerging technology sectors, including AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital engineering.
  5. Encourage local innovation and technology investment
    Provide incentives for companies that invest in Australian talent, research, and long-term domestic capability.
  6. Protect long-term national capability
    Develop a strategic framework to ensure Australia maintains sovereign expertise in key technology and digital infrastructure domains.

We believe Australia’s strength lies in its people, skills, and innovation. A balanced approach that supports both global collaboration and strong domestic employment is essential for sustainable economic growth and social stability.

We respectfully urge the Government to review this issue and take appropriate action to safeguard Australian jobs, families, and future workforce resilience.

172

Recent signers:
Stephen Crothers and 19 others have signed recently.

The issue

We, the undersigned residents and professionals of Australia, respectfully bring attention to a growing and serious concern affecting the Australian workforce, economy, and long-term national capability.

Across multiple sectors including banking, financial services, telecommunications, retail, and technology a significant number of Information Technology (IT) roles are increasingly being relocated offshore. This trend has resulted in widespread redundancies, employment instability, and financial stress for skilled professionals and their families within Australia.

For many Australian households, the loss of stable employment directly impacts the ability to meet essential financial commitments such as mortgage payments, living expenses, education costs, and healthcare. The broader consequences include reduced consumer spending, weakened local innovation, erosion of domestic technical capability, and long-term economic vulnerability.

Australia has invested heavily in building a skilled workforce through education, migration programs, and professional development. However, without appropriate safeguards and forward-looking policy, the continued transfer of critical jobs offshore risks undermining national productivity, workforce confidence, and economic resilience.

We respectfully call on the Australian Government to:

  1. Strengthen local employment protections
    Introduce policy measures that encourage organisations to prioritise retaining and creating skilled IT jobs within Australia.
  2. Increase transparency in offshore workforce decisions
    Require large organisations to disclose the scale and impact of offshoring on Australian employment.
  3. Introduce balanced offshoring regulations for critical sectors
    Ensure that industries such as banking, telecommunications, government services, and critical infrastructure maintain a strong domestic workforce presence.
  4. Support workforce transition and reskilling programs
    Expand government-funded initiatives that help affected professionals transition into emerging technology sectors, including AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital engineering.
  5. Encourage local innovation and technology investment
    Provide incentives for companies that invest in Australian talent, research, and long-term domestic capability.
  6. Protect long-term national capability
    Develop a strategic framework to ensure Australia maintains sovereign expertise in key technology and digital infrastructure domains.

We believe Australia’s strength lies in its people, skills, and innovation. A balanced approach that supports both global collaboration and strong domestic employment is essential for sustainable economic growth and social stability.

We respectfully urge the Government to review this issue and take appropriate action to safeguard Australian jobs, families, and future workforce resilience.

Support now

172


The Decision Makers

Andrew Giles
Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Amanda Rishworth
Shadow Minister for Youth and Early Childhood Education
Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister of Australia
Tim ayres
Tim ayres
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
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