Thanks Samh004, disappointing but a reality i guess.
Why is it 'disappointing?'
Trade occurs because it's an exchange for mutual benefit.
Businesses here (provided that they train the overseas based call centre staff properly, and have supervisors available who can resolve the more difficult questions) gain through lowering their costs. This helps them to stay competitive in a fast changing world.
Overseas, call centre staff in say Philippines are able to support families or spouses. Living standards increase gradually and so does disposable income.
Those displaced in Australia can sometimes find it hard initially to find other work, but a recent study of employees displaced from car manufacturing found that 66 per cent or so had quickly found work, and that more were likely to do so. Some who do not may be almost at or close to retiring age, and may receive substantial redundancy payments (though not everyone will if years of service are low.)
Successful economies concentrate on what they're good at. For instance, Israel and Silicon Valley, California focus on high tech and innovation; Japan has many focuses but one I saw last night was high speed rail; Thailand and Bali concentrate on tourism and hospitality; Philippines (the fastest growing economy in southeast and about level with mainland China for all of Asia) has many call centres and increasingly tourism; Germany is a centre of excellence in technology with France strong in tourism (admittedly suffering a downturn following terrorist attracks), wine and food and Spain fairly similar.
Let's concentrate on Australia's strengths in mining and resources, tourism as well as tertiary services (real estate, legal and accountancy services, some engineering, education to international university students) plus agriculture.