Peter Ong has today assumed the role of Deputy State Secretary of the Queensland and NT branch of the Electrical Trades Union.
Mr Ong will be Acting State Secretary of the Union while current State Secretary Peter Simpson continues to battle Stage 4 metastatic Melanoma.
In a social media post to the ETU’s Facebook page this morning Mr Simpson thanked ETU Members for their support and congratulated Mr Ong on his new role.
“Given the challenges we face in the next few years it’s important that there’s someone at the helm, full time, totally focused on the attacks we face as a Union. That has been my main motivator in reaching this decision,” the statement read.
“I want to thank all Members for their support over the past twenty years I’ve been an Official in this Union, in particular the past eight I’ve spent as State Secretary.
“There is no greater honour than representing workers and no greater honour to lead a Union you’ve grown up in and love.”
Mr Ong, who was previously Assistant State Secretary of the ETU, praised Mr Simpson for his fearless leadership of the Union, as well as spearheading the successful Not4Sale community campaign against electricity privatisation.
“During his eight years leading the ETU Simmo defended the state’s electricity assets from political leaders on both sides of the aisle, memorably seeing off Campbell Newman’s arrogant LNP Government after just one term,” he said.
“Simmo has lead the Union into a strong position to continue fighting off threats to Queensland workers’ way of life and protecting the integrity of the electrical trade.
“I’m proud to lead this great Union in his absence, giving Simmo and his family the space and time they need to continue his battle against cancer.”
Mr Ong, whose most recent position was Assistant State Secretary, has been a Member of the ETU since he was 15 years old, having joined the ETU as an apprentice construction electrician in Karratha, Western Australia.