Workers share disgusting images of the maggot-infested food they’re being served on one of Australia’s biggest worksites: ‘Prisoners are fed better’
- Workers at Snowy 2.0 campsites have found maggots in food
- Food served at several sites has been ‘unfit for consumption’
- SafeWork NSW is now investigating food hygiene
Workers living remotely at a government super-project found maggots and caterpillars in the food supplied to them by the jobsite.
Laborer’s working on Australia’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy 2.0, south of Canberra, are now considering strike action at the $2billion project.
Maggots were found in food served worksite including Tantangara, Lobb’s Hole and Marica and were documented by The Australian Workers Union who published the images calling for increased safety standards.
SafeWork NSW has also confirmed it will launch an investigation into food hygiene at the work campsites following the release of the photos and videos of bugs in numerous dishes.
Those currently contracted for work on the project are often required to live on-site and therefore have no access to alternate food.
Maggots were found in a steak served to workers during morning tea recently
The Snowy Hydro scheme is Australia’s greatest ever building project that changed the country and its people forever
A caterpillar was found alongside vegetables in a meal on a Snowy 2.0 worksite
The NSW Secretary of the Australian Workers Union, Tony Callinan, said in a statement that food hygiene concerns are not new and have been a topic of discussion ‘for a very long time’.
‘Supermax prisoners are served better food than the workers building Snowy Hydro 2.0.’ he said.
‘You have workers living, literally locked up in a camp with limited recreational facilities in the middle of nowhere, being fed maggot-infested food.
‘Unfortunately recently it’s escalated with some changes to the caterers, and now we’re actually seeing food that’s not actually fit for consumption.’
A spokesperson for SafeWork NSW also told the ABC that they will be aiding in an investigation alongside the National Parks and Wildlife Service with support from the NSW Food Authority.
The project’s building partner, Future Generation Joint Venture, has been provided with copies of images and video showing the extent of infestation in the food served to workers.
Mr Callinan blamed this situation on the partners ‘cutting every corner they can on food, on safety and on everything else’.
‘The site has an abysmal safety record — it’s an absolute pressure cooker right now. I know workers are considering downing tools if things don’t improve,’ he said.
Poached eggs were inedible for workers who had limited options for what was available to eat in remote NSW
A ‘potato cake’ served to workers that was documented by a worker and sent to the AWU
Though the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project has been subject to multiple controversies and delays, Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has not yet committed to launching an independent review into the alleged misconduct of management at the site.
The Turnbull government announced the expansion to the Snowy Hydro project in March 2017, promising first power in 2021 at a cost of $2bn.
Recent estimates from those involved with Snowy 2.0 expect the budget to inflate as high as $6bn, with construction now expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Future Generation Joint Venture for comment.
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