Stop the Sell Off campaigners visited Moruya on Monday, September 1, warning of a further decline in apprenticeships in the industry.

Electrical Trades Union secretary Steve Butler said the drastic cuts to apprentice numbers appeared to be part of a process of “fattening up” power network companies before Premier Mike Baird’s planned sell off. 

"In just four years, the annual intake of new apprentices — who are trained in the specialist skills required to maintain the electricity poles and wires — has been slashed by more than three quarters," he said.

"In 2010, the year before the Liberal National Government was elected, 129 new apprentices were employed by Essential Energy across regional NSW.

"By 2013, that number had dropped to 59, which was halved again this year with just 30 young people given a start.

“We are visiting workers in Moruya and elsewhere on the South Coast because they are deeply concerned about the long-term future of Essential Energy, and the impact of cuts to services and training that are already taking place."

He said the cuts were a body blow to young people.

“This training program is responsible for providing the next generation of power workers, and without this investment in the skills of young workers there will be an inevitable shortage of the people needed to build, maintain and repair the poles and wires in future," he said.