28 March 2025
Exploitation, unlicenced electrical work, and safety breaches
ETU doubts Powerlink’s ability to carry out major projects in North Queensland
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) is left doubting Powerlink’s ability to manage vital Copperstring project following reports of worker exploitation, unlicenced electrical work, and safety breaches on Townsville project.
Under Powerlink’s lead, contractor UGL has been exploiting international workers with gross underpayment. The contractor has been forcing workers, who do not have Queensland electrical licences, to complete electrical work on the Genex project in north Queensland.
“This is all happening under Powerlink’s nose, and specifically under the nose of the company’s CEO Paul Simshauser” says ETU Assistant Secretary Stuart Traill. “International workers are being exploited and grossly underpaid. They are also being strongarmed into completing electrical work that they are not licenced to carry out in Queensland.
“We’ve had countless reports of safety breaches on the Genex project from our members working on sites. After these reports, the ETU has lost confidence in Paul Simshauser. Powerlink is managing this project, and needs to be held accountable for exploitation and safety issues on site.
“Copperstring is a huge project and it’s vital it is completed safely. It’s a high stakes project providing important infrastructure to the north and north-west regions of Queensland.
“I have serious doubts about whether Powerlink is equipped to manage Copperstring. We need to be able to trust that Powerlink and the contractors are operating above board and that all electrical work is completed by people who are trained and licenced to do so,” says Mr Traill.
“It’s a disgrace,” says ETU State Organiser Lenny Lane. “Instead of supporting these skilled international workers to gain their local licences, the contractor is grossly underpaying them and has been for months.
“These workers should be trained and supported to gain Queensland electrical licences, but instead, the company is taking advantage of their skills, forcing them to complete unlicenced electrical work, and grossly underpaying them to top it off,” says Mr Lane.
“We’re demanding that Powerlink address these breaches immediately. Powerlink is the lead company overseeing the project and the buck stops with them for all matters of worker exploitation and breaches of health and safety legislation. Powerlink needs to ensure all safety issues are rectified, and workers are paid appropriately,” says Mr Traill.
ENDS
For more information, please call Stuart Traill on 0488 225 625 or Lenny Lane on 0428 392 935