Bushfire risks from faulty power lines are back under the microscope as part of a new campaign to address the life-threatening issue.
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In 2009, faulty electricity poles were found to have caused five of the black Saturday bushfires in Victoria which killed 173 people.
The Electrical Trades Union on Monday launched a campaign calling for upgrades to power lines, poles and wires across Australia.
The union claims the energy regulator has reduced electricity companies' budgets by $10 billion in 10 years, resulting in cuts to upgrade and maintenance projects.
ETU national secretary Allen Hicks said cost cutting has left the electricity grid "dangerously neglected".
"This is a matter of life and death for communities and workers - we cannot wait until after a horrific bushfire for change," he said.
"Commonwealth and state governments need to act now, before a coroner's report forces them to."
The union is calling for federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor to change the regulator's decision-making process to prevent cuts to funding for maintenance and network upgrades.
It also wants improvements to the regulator's assessment of maintenance and upgrade proposals.