Telstra is planning to sack around 400 call centre workers and send many of their jobs to the Philippines.

The telco says it wants to cut about 276 contractors and the equivalent of 135 full-time jobs.

A Telstra spokesperson has announced heads will roll at centres in Hobart, Launceston, Perth, Ballarat and Townsville.

Townsville appears to be the hardest hit, with 178 contractors on the block.

Telstra says it may manage to re-employ up to 50 people in north Queensland.

Perth offices will see more than 100 jobs go - 80 employees and 25 contractors are set to be sacked if the proposed changes go ahead.

Telstra’s Perth area general manager Guy Champion told reporters that it was a difficult decision.

“We remain committed to the City of Perth and to the state of Western Australia,” he said.

“Our teams in Perth would continue to perform a wide variety of work, including customer service, network design and deployment and field services.’

Mr Champion said some Perth employees would be able to make an expression of interest to relocate to Townsville.

“Our focus is on working with our people to help them understand the proposed changes and what it would mean for [employees], and what their options are should we proceed,” he said.

“The proposed changes would make better use of our 24/7 hours of operation in Townsville.”

Mr Champion said the company’s proposal was designed to consolidate similar functions so that more work could be completed by fewer teams.