No breaches found on Dalby solar farm
ALLEGATIONS that German backpackers were performing unlicensed electrical work on a solar project near Toowoomba have been hosed down by the State Government.
Union representatives confirmed it received reports from the site of the $200 million Darling Downs Solar Farm near Dalby last month, alleging that principal contractor RCR Tomlinson was using 417-visa workers to carry out “untested” electrical jobs.
The 45 workers are believed to be mostly from Germany, with some from Japan.
“We believe they’re doing illegal and unlicensed electrical work,” Queensland Council of Unions representative Dan McGaw told The Chronicle.
“They’re building projects for our electrical network with skills that aren’t tested.”
But a spokesman for the Office of Industrial Relations said it was yet to find a breach on the site.
“We are aware of allegations of unlicensed persons performing electrical work during the construction of solar farms in the Darling Downs area,” he said.
“These matters have been investigated and no breach of Queensland’s electrical licensing requirements has been identified at this time.
‘‘ WE BELIEVE THEY’RE DOING UNLICENSED ELECTRICAL WORK. DAN MCGAW
“The Electrical Safety Office will take enforcement action where duty holders are breaching electrical safety legislation, with fines of up to $40,000 for those conducting unlicensed electrical work.”
Mr McGaw criticised the use of backpackers to build major legacy projects, saying contractors should carry out proper market tests and use local professionals.
“There’s not a genuine need for 417-visa workers on this,” he said.
“When we were building the projects for the gas boom there was plenty of work but now the bubble has burst, and there are plenty of unemployed tradesmen.
“We’re not against foreign workers, but 417-visa workers should be used for seasonal work, not projects that have lifespans of 30 to 45 years.
“We believe the companies aren’t doing a market test to see what skills are out there, what underemployment there is.”
Mr McGaw said unions were noticing more and more solar projects across Australia using working holiday visa-holders.