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Industry peak bodies have welcomed Labor’s $78 million plan to fast-track tradies’ qualifications in a bid to address the housing crisis and meet the national housing target of 1.2 million homes.
Labor has pledged to establish an Advanced Entry Trades Training program, which will assist 6,000 experienced but unqualified workers in obtaining formal recognition through a recognition of prior learning process.
The training program is based on the successful NSW Trade Pathways program, which enabled over 1,200 students to obtain their trade qualifications in an average of seven months.
It will identify gaps in construction workers’ skills through free, individualised training delivered by TAFE and other registered training organisations.
Managing director of the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Jocelyn Martin, said that the government’s funding to fast-track tradies’ qualifications is an important step in addressing the challenges workers face in obtaining formal recognition.
“There are many highly talented, experienced workers in our industry who have learnt their craft onsite, but may not have undertaken or completed their formal training,” Martin said.
“HIA welcomes recognition that a single policy solution will not address our chronic skills shortages in the industry, instead, we need a raft of solutions to solve the skills conundrum and get all hands on deck to build the homes Australia desperately needs.”
Property Council chief executive, Mike Zorbas, said the program must prioritise trades within the residential construction sector.
“The only way out of this housing crisis is to build more homes, and to do that, we need more carpenters, roofers, plumbers and tilers,” he said.
“More workers onsite, across every trade, is a must-have.”
Zorbas also called for an increase in skilled migration to support the domestic workforce.
“Historically, less than two in every 100 migrants coming into this country have had a construction trade – that is simply not enough,” Zorbas said.
“As we manage down our immigration intake, we need to boost the proportion of skilled migrants with construction trades coming to this country.”
The proposed initiative builds on the government’s existing efforts to grow the construction workforce, including Free TAFE for 600,000 enrollments, $10,000 apprentice incentives, increased living-away-from-home allowances, and over $60 million invested in the Building Women’s Careers program.
Scheduled to begin in 2026, the program will also support Labor’s broader housing commitments, including the construction of 100,000 homes dedicated to first home buyers.
The $78 million plan will be implemented in alignment with Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles, and occupations included in the program’s operations will be determined in consultation with states and territories, based on local labour market needs.
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