The federal government has ruled out sending the triple-zero emergency call service overseas following its call for tenders to take over from Telstra.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has hit back at comments from the Communications Union, saying the service will remain in Australia.
"This is a tender requirement as per the notice on the Austender website," he said in a statement on Saturday.
"The Union should cease its entirely predictable fearmongering."
The comments come after Communications Union National President Shane Murphy said the government's announcement opened the door for overseas call centres.
"Are they simply looking to cut costs by shipping Australian jobs offshore at the expense of a skilled, qualified workforce providing an efficient essential service?" Mr Murphy said in a statement.
"If this tender is simply about savings costs by sending Australian jobs overseas, the government should be ashamed of itself."
The government called for expressions of interest for the national emergency system on Thursday following a review that focused on keeping pace with technological advancements.
