Safety investigation launched at UTS over KPMG's job slashing plan
The workplace safety watchdog recently launched an investigation into UTS, issuing it with a 'notice to give information' under the Work Health and Safety Act.
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The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
EVs may be the way to drive down everyone's power bills
Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money. Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
EVs may be the way to drive down everyone's power bills
Incentives for electric car owners to sell energy stored in their vehicles back to the grid could deliver a $230 million national windfall and make power cheaper for everyone. Modelling by the Electric Vehicle Council suggests a $3000 government rebate towards vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, chargers would create $4500 in downward pressure on electricity bills Australia wide. So called bi-directional technology allows energy stored in EVs during daylight hours and while power is cheap to be sold back during evening peaks. According to the research, every dollar spent supporting V2G would mean a $1.50 return through lower wholesale prices and a reduced need for additional expenditure on infrastructure. The benefit for participating EV owners would be handy too, with an extra $1000 per year in their pockets for exporting power when demand is high. The council wants V2G chargers included in the federal government's $2.3 billion home battery program and says 600,000 contributing EVs would match the output of NSW's Eraring power station operating at full capacity. There is major potential to make electricity cheaper and help stabilise the energy grid, according to CEO Julie Delvecchio. "Just as Australia became a rapid global leader in rooftop solar, we have the opportunity now to lead the charge in vehicle-to-grid uptake," she said on Saturday. "EVs can store up to five times more energy than a typical home battery." Australia is already home to more than 350,000 EVs or "giant batteries on wheels", with a high proportion garaged in middle and outer suburbia. "With some EVs now around $30,000, the up-front cost is making it more affordable for more Australians to make the switch to cheaper-to-run cars," Ms Delvecchio said. "V2G unlocks the full benefit of EV uptake in a way that helps everyone - EV owner or not." The council is calling for the home battery program to include $3000 rebates for 50,000 V2G chargers by the end of 2028 at a cost of $150 million. It calculates this would create a national benefit of more than $230 million by 2033. A study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney and iMove Co-operative Research Centre earlier this year found more than half of all Australians would like their car to double as a battery that could feed power back to the grid. However big changes would be needed to make the process easier. The high price of bi-direction chargers, persistent software issues and complicated installation processes were cited as the main issues. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency issued a V2G roadmap in February that estimated 2.6 million households could be using the technology by 2040 to support the energy grid and save money.
ABC News
02-07-2025
- ABC News
One third of UTS staff suffer psychological distress as hundreds of jobs set to be axed
Staff at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are experiencing high levels of psychological distress as they brace for 400 redundancies as part of a broader cull of Australian university workers, according to a leaked survey. The survey of 380 workers by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), obtained by ABC News, found 35 per cent were experiencing very high levels of psychological distress. "There's a lot of helplessness and uncertainty and the thing that I want to draw out of here is people have this notion that's natural with change management," said Dr Hossai Gul, a UTS expert in change in complex systems. Dr Gul is risking her employment to speak out due to rules governing public comment by university staff. She said the redundancies would result in the downgrading of important areas of scholarship and teaching at the university. "That's at the core of helplessness and uncertainty. What do you say to something like that? When people are imposing that onto you?" she said. "The area you've worked with for your whole life, to teach, is for no reason at all, no longer going to be taught and therefore you might be redundant and have your job cut." It comes as university management undertakes a $100 million restructure dubbed the Operational Sustainability Initiative (OSI). "The need to reduce expenditure is necessary because our revenue does not cover our ongoing operating costs. In 2024, revenue was $1.3 billion against expenditure of $1.4 billion," a UTS spokesperson said. "We cannot continue to absorb these losses — we need to reduce spending and maintain it to protect our core teaching and research." Documents released under freedom of information laws showed UTS would spend about $5 million seeking advice from consultants KPMG on OSI which the university said was "standard practice". "KPMG has been engaged to provide advice and expertise to support the sustainability initiative under the direction of the university leadership who are responsible for all decisions," the spokesperson said. The university estimated in a town hall meeting that OSI could result in 400 job losses and courses being cut for students. "We are devastated that we are in the position of needing to cease or reorganise work which will ultimately result in job losses. These are not easy decisions and are not taken lightly," the UTS spokesperson said. SafeWork NSW is investigating the risk of psychological harm and the ABC understands the NTEU will provide the workplace watchdog with the survey. "What I've noticed around the office is that people are afraid. There is a real sense of fear of being able to openly speak about what's going on and to ask questions," said a UTS staff member, speaking anonymously to protect their employment. "When I talk about this with people it's you know, 'Come in and close the door'. Staff have set up WhatsApp groups just because they don't feel safe talking about it in other forums." The university said it was aware of risks to staff during the consultation period and was "fully cooperating" with SafeWork NSW. "UTS representatives have met with SafeWork NSW following receipt by SafeWork NSW of some complaints, particularly related to matters of workload and consultation," the spokesperson said. When the ABC took the leaked survey to the NTEU to verify its authenticity, the NTEU confirmed they undertook the staff survey. National President Dr Alison Barnes said many of the staff were at risk of losing their livelihoods. "These short-sighted job cuts are having a devastating impact on the wellbeing of staff at UTS, which can be directly linked to management's cruel failure to do proper consultation about this terrible plan," she said. "There's also been a shocking lack of consultation on the risk assessment for the change – and that's something the health and safety inspector is looking into at the moment." The survey also found 60 per cent of academic staff reported being unable to complete their workloads during paid hours. "I'm a mental health professional and very aware of the early signs of deteriorating mental health and for myself I've had to take stress leave a couple of times through this process," the anonymous staff member said. Do you have a story to share? Email The row at UTS comes after universities nationally were forced to repay hundreds of millions of dollars to staff after years of wage theft and a scathing senate inquiry into university governance. It's not yet known if senate hearings will resume later this year but an interim report alleged "systemic… non-compliance with workplace laws". Chair of the Senate Committee, Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, was highly critical of UTS in a statement to ABC News. "Decisions seem to be made behind closed doors, with staff shut out of key decisions while outside accountants are brought in to crunch numbers and make calls about people's jobs." Mr Sheldon said the government would move to "fix broken governance" as part of wider university reforms. "It's also telling that SafeWork NSW is now involved. When staff have to rely on the workplace safety regulator to be heard, that speaks volumes about the failure of leadership," he said. UTS is far from the only institution laying off workers with many universities announcing job losses. The NTEU said the cuts were causing anxiety among staff across the university sector. "This is not an isolated case. The lack of transparency and accountability in Australia's broken university governance system allows overpaid vice-chancellors and executives to make decisions that tear at the fabric of our public universities," Ms Barnes said. "Right across the country, vice-chancellors are instinctively pursuing job cuts that will cause long-term damage to public universities." University management have said the cuts are necessary because of their financial position. The sector is currently lobbying government for extra research and teaching funding.
