The Premier of Tasmania is looking for work on NBN towers to continue, with slow progress and job losses hindering the entire sector.

Roll-out of National Broadband Network towers has been halted by efforts to remove asbestos from Telstra's service pits. There appears to be a lag in Tasmania between asbestos removal ending and tower construction beginning with one subcontractor having to stand down 200 workers after running out of pits to clean.

Another subcontractor has reportedly told media sources that Visionstream, the company at the head of the NBN roll-out, does not intend to resume services for up to three months.

Federal Communications Minister Anthony Albanese says no short-cuts will be taken in the clean-up of the potentially deadly material. Telstra has not said when it will resume the clean-up of asbestos in pits through which NBN fibre will be rolled out.

There is widespread confusion over who should take responsibility for delays; Federal authorities say they are powerless to intervene, Union members say that is rubbish, the Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister says it is not the State's responsibility and subcontractors say they just want to retain staff.
Bad news is compounding for the Tasmanian Premier and workers in the building and manufacturing sector, after recent job losses in several Tasmanian firms, including car parts maker ACL announcing it will close its doors.

Premier Lara Giddings said: “While safety is paramount, particularly when dealing with asbestos, we have been in contact with Telstra to urge them to progress the clean-up as a matter of urgency so work can resume. The last thing we want to see is workers being stood down at a time when Tasmania desperately needs the economic activity in the construction sector. If we lose this highly skilled workforce, it will be very hard to replace when the project ramps back up again.”

Tasmania is reportedly in stage three of the National Broadband Network roll-out, whereas most other sites are still on stage one. State construction authorities say it could be disastrous for local employment and finances if the project stalls for much longer.