The sparkies union has called on the Albanese government to help stop federal contractor Downer from outsourcing jobs, claiming the government allowing such actions is directly at odds with its crackdown on labour hire exploitation.

The Electrical Trades Union has written to Defence Minister Richard Marles to protest Downer’s moves to outsource the work of 31 electricians and plumbers at Australian Defence Force sites in Queensland this Friday in a bid by the service contractor to cut costs.