Unions Call For Energy Minister To Answer For Callide Power Station Explosion

Unions are calling on Queensland Energy Minister, Michael de Brenni, to come clean about the state of government work practices following the Callide Power Station explosion on May 25.

Callide Power Station C’s Unit 4 engine, a 405-megawatt Toshiba steam turbine, spun out of control last Tuesday before eventually exploding; sending large pieces of shrapnel hundreds of metres from the site and creating a statewide blackout.

Reports of power outages were sourced from towns near the New South Wales border through to north of Cairns, as private properties and public utilities, including traffic lights, went without power as a result of the blast.

Union officials described the lack of injuries or fatalities to the Callide crew as a ‘miracle’.

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Vice President, Shane Brunker, claims they had been speaking up about unsafe practices on the Callide Power Station site for some time.

CS Energy continued their investigation for the cause of the incident on Friday.

The Queensland Briefing

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