State Governments Billion‑Dollar Genex Health Horror Continues:
Workers at the John Holland & McConnel Dowell Kidston Pumped Hydro Project Fed Broken Promises and Maggots for Meals
Workers delivering the $1B Genex Kidston Pumped Hydro Project are being fed maggot-infested meals, raising serious health concerns throughout the project as workers fear gastro outbreaks, bacterial poisoning and salmonella. This comes only 49 days after the Joint Venture (JV) between John Holland and McConnel Dowell made commitments to rectify the living conditions at the project, as workers reported mouldy rooms, putrid food and widespread gastro outbreaks due to appalling living conditions back in October 2025.
ETU State Organiser Robert Hill says, "The JV committed to 'holding Genex to account' and ensuring 'regular and ongoing independent audits of food safety.' They are required to provide the following without delay:
- Copies of all food safety audits conducted since the commitment was made
- Dates of audits
- Qualifications of the auditor
- Evidence of any actions taken to hold Genex accountable
The presence of larvae in meals constitutes a clear breach of food safety standards and raises serious concerns about negligence in the handling, storage, and preparation of food as well as the standard and frequency of audit. Multiple workers have reported gastrointestinal illness over an extended period, and I experienced the same during my last visit."
"The hygiene and food safety standards have again fallen to unacceptable levels. The attached photos show larvae present in a crib meal on the 10th of January 2026. This is a fundamental breach of food safety obligations and raises serious concerns about the camp's ability to provide safe, nutritious meals. The connection between these incidents and the conditions being reported cannot be ignored. This has many wondering what they consume when their food is covered in gravy or curry etc. and is clearly not acceptable. I wouldn't feed that to my dog!" says Robert Hill.
There are also reports that the camp is running out of food due to road access being cut by flooding. This indicates a complete lack of contingency planning. This raises questions about the JV's ability to meet its basic obligations under workplace health and safety legislation, including the requirement to provide adequate facilities and sustenance.
The JV committed to increasing cleaning staff. While this occurred initially, standards have since deteriorated. Two employees commenced their swing over New Year to find their rooms un-serviced. This is unacceptable and demonstrates a failure to maintain even the temporary improvements that were made.
The commitment to resolve Wi-Fi issues by 15 December 2025 has also not been met. The service remains unreliable and below the standard required for a remote workforce. This is a clear failure to comply with the agreed timeline and deliverables.
The ETU and AMWU are outraged and disgusted as the JV provided commitments in writing. Those commitments formed the basis for returning people to work. The JV has not met those commitments. These matters are no longer minor operational oversights; they represent systemic failures that directly impact health, safety, and the credibility of John Holland, McConnel Dowell and Genex.
If safe places to live for these workers are not ensured, the ETU and AMWU demand that all workers affected by these appalling living conditions are sent home. No worker should be forced to choose between earning a living and risking their health. Until these fundamental failures are addressed and independently verified, the ongoing operation of the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project under current conditions is unacceptable.
