The Electrical Trades Union says meals served to workers at the Genex Kidston Pumped Hydro Project in North Queensland contained larvae and other contaminants, prompting health concerns and reported gastrointestinal illness. After follow-up reports of mould and flies, work on the project was halted on Jan. 20 while Genex implements council-ordered improvements to the remote camp. The union has demanded food-safety audits and auditor credentials as workers seek alternatives in an isolated location.
Maggot-Infested Meals Halt $1B Queensland Project as Union Demands Food-Safety Audits
ETU Queensland and Northern TerritoryMeal served to workers at the $1B Genex Kidston Pumped Hydro Project
A $1 billion construction project in North Queensland has been paused after union officials raised serious food-safety concerns following photos and reports that meals supplied to workers contained larvae and other contaminants.
What Happened
On Jan. 10, a photograph circulated showing what the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) says are larvae in a worker's meal at the remote camp supporting the Genex Kidston Pumped Hydro Project. On Jan. 13 the ETU issued a news release warning that workers faced risks including gastro outbreaks, bacterial poisoning and salmonella because of the food being supplied.
ETU Queensland and Northern TerritoryContaminated meal at the Genex project
Union's Concerns and Allegations
ETU State Organizer Robert Hill described the photo as evidence of a breach of basic food-safety standards and pointed to possible mishandling, poor storage and inadequate preparation. The union said multiple workers had reported gastrointestinal illness over an extended period, and that further contamination reports — including mould and flies — emerged in an updated release on Jan. 15.
"This has many wondering what they consume when their food is covered in gravy or curry… I wouldn't feed that to my dog," said Robert Hill, per the ETU news release.
Operational Impact
Following the allegations, work on the site was halted on Jan. 20, according to reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The site is believed to employ more than 150 people, and the workers' camp is about three hours from the nearest service stop, complicating alternatives for food supply.
ETU Queensland and Northern TerritoryFlies on a worker's meal at the Genex project
Company Response and Next Steps
Genex told the ABC that after receiving a list of required improvements from the local council, it decided to temporarily suspend camp operations while those improvements are carried out. A Genex spokesperson said the company is supporting the contractor to demobilise the workforce and will maintain the camp facility until demobilisation is complete.
Union Demands
The ETU has demanded that Genex provide copies of all food-safety audits and the qualifications of the auditors, arguing the company must be held accountable for conditions at the camp. Union representatives said some workers are so concerned they are discussing paying to helicopter in food.
ETU Queensland and Northern TerritoryMould on food at the Genex project
Context
Remote construction camps present logistical challenges for food safety and supply; flooding in the region reportedly limited road access, contributing to meal shortages, the union said. Both Genex and the ETU did not immediately respond to requests for further comment to some outlets as the situation evolved.
Reporting references: ETU news releases (Jan. 13, Jan. 15), ABC, and local news coverage.
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