"Electricians and backpackers sound alarm about unsafe conditions on solar farms"

In 2023, 15 new large commercial solar farms were completed across Australia, the majority owned by global renewable energy and financial services companies.

Workers and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) officials have also told the ABC there are major safety issues with the way labour is managed at many remote solar sites.

Michael Wright, the ETU's national secretary, said having backpackers who were unqualified to perform skilled work put workers at risk.

"What we are talking about is actual electrical work, which should be performed by an electrical licence holder, being performed unsafely and not to standard," he said.

Mr Wright said the union also found trade assistants working without supervision…

"We've come across the electrical licensing laws being breached by backpackers and other non-electrical workers doing work that is particularly high risk," Mr Wright said.

"That puts not only themselves in jeopardy, but their co-workers too."…

The ETU wants the renewable energy sector to help pay its way in training the next generation of electricians that it needs for its projects…

"Most critically, what we need is a consistent pipeline of apprentices coming through," Mr Wright said.

"Renewables are currently taking more than they give when it comes to apprentices."…

The Clean Energy Council said…it would be unable to provide specific comments…