Skills related to both the construction and use of the National Broadband Network should be put high on the national training agenda the CEPU has said.

The comments were made in the Communication Division’s submission to a House of Representatives inquiry into the role and potential of the NBN.  The inquiry will focus on the role that superfast broadband can play in the delivery of health, education and other social services.

But the union pointed out that the government’s vision depended on Australia having the skills to maximise the NBN opportunity.

The CEPU argued that both NBN network construction and operation skills and digital economy skills more broadly should be recognised as “critical skills” for the Australian economy at this point of time.

The union is concerned that without a coordinated national effort in these areas, business will increasingly use temporary measures such as 457 visas to meet the skills shortfall.

This would run counter to what the union believes should be the long-term goal of building a stable national skills base to support productivity and innovation within the digital economy.

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