CEPU SA

25/08/2026

On this episode of In The Shed Podcast with Ando and Carky, CEPU SA Organiser Max Mawby talks about one of the oldest workplace and public health hazards around — Lead.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ze704pamoyJFYY59sLRFJ?si=5d3b3776b77d4a02

What starts with the story of CEPU members being exposed while removing over 30 tonnes of lead cable while decommissioning the AGL Torrens Island Power Station turns into a much bigger conversation about workplace safety, regulators, corporate responsibility and what happens when workers are left to pay the price.

The guys discuss lead contamination in places you might not expect — including lead products still being sold at Bunnings — and some staggering contamination results. They also unpack what lead actually does to the human body and how it actually makes people sick through mimmickry of other essential elements in the human body, why there is no safe level of exposure, and why lead deserves the same level of awareness and regulation in our industries as asbestos and silica.

They then head down many lead rabbit holes: including leaded petrol, Thomas Midgley, Clair Patterson, industry-funded science, global contamination, the possible links between childhood lead exposure and crime, and why lead is still being pumped into the environment today through aviation fuel in light aircraft spewing Tetraethyl Leaded toxins, continuing the invisible poisoning of Australian's

Lead has been poisoning humans for thousands of years. We know what it does. We know how dangerous it is. So why, in 2026, are we still treating it like it’s no big deal?

19/08/2026

CEPU SA Delegate Doug explains why electrical and plumbing trade trainers at TAFE SA are taking strike action.

19/08/2026

Our TAFE SA enterprise agreement campaign hit the media today.
The Advertiser reported it on page 7 of todays paper.
CEPU delegates did a press conference during their strike action this morning attended by channel 10, channel 7 and The ABC.
We also got airtime on 5AA this morning and have an interview booked for ABC drive at 5:15.

17/08/2026

With the sheer number of new apprentices required, now more than ever Electrical and Plumbing trades trainers are a key component of South Australia’s future.

Today these tafeSA trainers took action to fight for the future they deserve and to keep trainers teaching within the Tafe system.

15/08/2026

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the workers at St Marys SAPN Depot. Thankfully our delegate Simon, had everyone lined up and ready to go! There were great conversations and a couple of presentations as well.
Congratulations go to Adam Crockford for his 20 year membership, Patrick Dinan for his 40 year membership, and Andy Partridge for his 40 year membership as well. St Marys is now 100% CEPU SA membership in the workplace.
Thankyou for your hospitality.
Jason Lailey
SA Power Industry Organiser.

13/08/2026

Join us at the Semaphore Workers Club as we come together to celebrate the values our unions are built on – solidarity, equality, and a fair go for all.

The targeting of this working-class institution by neo-Nazi vandals earlier this week is an attack on our movement.

Come along to the club on Friday to show your support and take a stand against all forms of hate.

11/08/2026

10/08/2026

The CEPU welcomes today's prosecution by Safework SA in the South Australian Employment Tribunal of AGL after a very long and hard fought campaign where AGL failed to protect workers from lead exposure resulting in lead posioning during the decommissioning of the A-Station turbine hall at Torrens Island Power Station back in late 2022/early 2023.

During this period, workers were tasked with cable spiking, cutting, carrying, grinding and removing lead covered cables from cable trays and switch gear. Lead was missing as a hazard from the formal risk assessment and as a result inadequate PPE was not provided. There were no company policies in place and no formal process for handling lead while perfroming lead risk work.

The South Australian Work Health and Saftey Regulations section 392 - 418 on Lead are very clear on the obligations for employers when it comes to managing Lead Risk Work.

Deputy President Judge Crawley said in his sentencing remarks

" I have difficulty in understanding how the defendant failed to recognise the risk created by this task. It was aware of the dangers
of lead exposure and specifically considered what tasks during
decommissioning may create a risk of such exposure. Removing and cutting up large quantities of paper insulated lead covered cables should have been an obvious source of the risk of lead exposure needing to be addressed. "

AGL were fined $100,000, but were given a reduction of 40% under an early guilty plea arrangement for a Category 3 offence

The strange part is that Safework SA had initially charged AGL with a more serious category 2 offence which AGL refused to accept. AGL then plead guilty to the lesser category 3 offence which Safework SA accepted. The phase "early guilty plea" is very confusing for us to understand.

In our view, AGL should have been pursued for a category 2 offence given that workers were made sick and suffered lead poisoning symptoms with one worker successful in having an accepted Return To Work claim of acute lead toxicity as a result.

Another confusing statement by the judge was that AGL contacted and self reported the incident to Safework SA. This is not true as our members were the ones who discovered that the lead regulations existed where it was mantaded that a company must report lead risk work to the regulator. When AGL were confronted with this they refused and told workers not to report it, it was only after our members stood up and reported it to Safework SA that AGL were then forced to comply.

To put AGL's fine of $60,000 into context.

The 30 tons of lead cable the workers did remove before work was stopped after it made them sick contained roughly 18 tons of copper, 9 tons of lead with 3 tons of scrap plastic and paper.

This was only 14.5% of the 207 tons in scope for removal in total.

The amount AGL received for this scrap metal is roughly $211,000.
3.5 times the amount of money they are now ordered to pay as a penalty from this prosecution.

While we are happy that a conviction and a fine have been recorded, we can't help but to feel that justice for the injured workers has not been achieved in this case.

Especially for a company like AGL who have recently said in Financial Review of May this year that it expected underlying profit after tax to land between $610 million and $680 million just for 2026.

07/08/2026

Happy Anniversary CEPU SA member Matt Sruhan! Not only is it Matts 20th wedding anniversary, it is also his 20th CEPU SA membership anniversary as well. Matt also moved from NSW to the mighty state of South Australia 20 years ago too!
It was great to catch up and talk a bit of s**t with Matt and listen to his tales from the industry.
Good on you mate, thanks for your continued commitment to the union.
Jason Lailey
SA Power Industry Organiser.

05/08/2026

Good morning CEPU SA members at the Seaford SAPN depot!
It was a pleasure to drop in and discuss the important issues for this workplace. Top of the list was an Extra Weeks Annual Leave which has become a favourite across the state!
I appreciate your hospitality.
Jason Lailey
SA Power Industry Organiser.