Hydro Tasmania cuts consulting jobs

Engineers Australia has expressed its dismay at Hydro Tasmania’s consulting arm cutting almost 40 jobs. The company says it was forced to make the cuts as a result of tightening in the Australian engineering consultancy sector.

“Many of Tasmania’s industries, including construction, hydro-infrastructure, power and telecommunications, rely heavily on engineering consultancy services. Engineers Australia is concerned about the trend that includes yesterday’s announcement and the possible flow-on effects for local industry and the local economy,” said Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager of Engineers Australia’s Tasmania Division.

“The consulting industry is the largest employer of engineers in the country, with over 40,000 engineers working across the sector.

“A large proportion of engineering consultants are employed in the planning and delivery of major infrastructure projects. With so many engineers employed in infrastructure delivery, even a small downturn can have a major effect on the workforce. The boom/bust infrastructure investment cycle seen across the country in recent years does nothing to create a stable workforce.

“Government has a key role in infrastructure delivery, and it is essential that government provides adequate transparency in the scheduling and provision of infrastructure projects. We need to avoid acute demand spikes across specific locations and engineering specialisations, and provide far more certainty to those employed in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

“It is critical that engineers and their employers are able to plan ahead. Employers need certainty about when and where major projects will be delivered. Ad hoc project delivery has the potential to create major implications for local and national economies, and all Australian governments have a major role to play in maintaining a coordinated and integrated critical list of infrastructure projects.

“Our thoughts are with the employees and families of those affected by yesterday’s announcement,” said Dr Gardiner.