More than 500 employees at the Queensland government owned Yurika have been told the electricity and EV services company is to be “dissolved”, and folded back into its parent company in what unions describe as the latest attack on the renewables industry in the sunshine state.
Yurika was created as a standalone unit in 2016, and has become a major EPC contractor for renewables and storage projects – including most recently the Broadsound solar and battery project and the Swanbank battery, and it has managed the rollout of EV fast chargers across the state.
It has also worked on an extensive portfolio of projects that include the MacIntyre, Clarke Creek and Wambo wind farms in Queensland, the Wellington North solar farm in NSW, the Stanwell and Tarong batteries in Queensland, and other projects in NSW and Victoria.
Employees told Renew Economy they were advised on Wednesday morning about the changes, and were told that Yurika would be dissolved and absorbed into Energy Queensland, the state owned network company.
The Electrical Trades Union says they have been told that existing contracts will be honoured – work continues on Broadsound and other projects – but says the 571 employees face an uncertain future.
The ETU said it is not surprised by the move, given what it described as the new LNP government’s “open warfare” on wind farms, and the drying up of new projects because of the government’s stance against renewables.
The LNP government has already torn up approvals for two major wind projects and called in another two projects, and has signalled its intention to rip up the state’s renewable energy targets. Its new energy plan, expected to focus on maintaining coal and building new gas, is due to be unveiled next month.
“Wind farms are being openly rejected by the LNP, and the pipeline of work has dried up,” said ETU assistant state secretary Stuart Trail. “Whilst the rest of the country in the renewable and transmission sector, the LNP have no sensible and sustainable plan. They are a train wreck for workers.”
There have been rumours of major changes in government-owned energy corporations under the new government, but a spokesperson for Energy Queensland, however, sought to downplay the impact.
They said management reporting lines would remain the same, and that the company would still continue to bid for new construction contracts for wind, solar and storage, as well as maintaining its other business lines.
The spokesperson said the move was driven by the desire to reduce costs, but declined to comment on any job losses. The spokesperson said there will be several weeks of consultation before any final decision is made.
“Yurika will continue to deliver existing commercial contracts while also maintaining the provision of energy supplies and equipment to support housing and industrial growth; delivering metering services; and delivering statewide telecommunications services to business customers,” the company said in an earlier emailed statement.
“Energy Queensland is committed to supporting employees through this change while the reporting line proposal is undergoing the consultation process.”
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