9th September 2025
ETU calls for State Transport Minister to end TMR lockout
Reckless LNP government putting Queensland lives at risk
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) condemns the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ (TMR) extreme and disproportionate decision to lock out essential traffic signal workers in response to protected industrial action.
These skilled and specialised workers who are on call 24/7, keeping Queensland’s roads running smoothly, traffic lights functioning, and responding to emergency traffic incidents were taking minor, lawful industrial action, such as paperwork bans and specialised licence restrictions. Despite this legal industrial action, they committed to ensuring that crews remained available for all Priority 1 emergency callouts, putting the safety of Queenslanders first.
State secretary Peter Ong said the reaction from TMR to lock out ETU members and replace them with contractors is putting lives at risk. “In its rush to undermine these workers, the government has allowed TMR to bypass standard procurement procedures and bring in contractors to take over these critical roles. These contractors don’t have the skills or knowledge of the processes and safety checks required to attend to Priority 1 faults and get them tested correctly and back up and running safely.”
Ong pointed to specific examples of contractors risking public safety. “Contractors attending traffic signals at night, turning them off without any police or traffic control in place. These actions turning signals off without any control in place is a disaster waiting to happen.”
“We have also had reports of contractors working on intersections after a signal knockdown, then just turning the intersection on without completing any of the required legislated mandatory testing from AS3000. This has been reported to the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).”
“The real and present risk in the above example is how do we know the traffic signals are electrically safe? The push button or any traffic signal pole could potentially have 240V on it, what if a child on their way to school pressed the push button to cross the road at an untested intersection with 240V present? The outcome is electrocution and potential death. There are also reports of TMR sending out civil workers to attend and assist with emergency electrical faults.”
“TMR’s actions are reckless and put lives at risk. Our members have the skills, training, and commitment to public safety that this work demands, yet they’ve been locked out for exercising their lawful industrial rights. The department must stop playing roulette with Queenslanders’ lives and return to the table in good faith. Our message to Minster Mickelberg, end the lockout.”
The ETU is actively investigating and reporting all instances of unsafe and non-compliant work being carried out under TMR’s rushed contractor response.
For more information please contact Peter Ong 0419 721 046 or Will Yates 0448 633 858