JIM CHALMERS MP
TREASURER

CLARE O'NEIL MP
MINISTER FOR HOUSING
MINISTER FOR HOMELESSNESS

ANDREW GILES MP
MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING


LABOR FAST TRACKING 6,000 TRADIES TO BUILD AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE
 

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will invest $78 million to fast track the qualification of 6,000 tradies to help build more homes across Australia.

This election commitment will establish the Advanced Entry Trades Training program to help experienced but unqualified workers get the qualifications and recognition they deserve for their work.

The program will assess a participants’ existing skills via a recognition of prior learning process and then fill in any gaps with individualised training delivered by TAFEs and other high quality Registered Training Organisations. Any extra training needed will be free.

It is based on the successful NSW Government Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers program, which has seen more than 1,200 students gain their trade qualification in an average time of 7 months, rather than several years.

Research from Master Builders Australia shows that for every new qualified tradie, an extra 2.4 houses will be built each year.

Recognising the skills of these 6,000 workers and helping them to become qualified tradies will help reach the Albanese Labor Government’s goal to build 1.2 million new homes in 5 years.

It will also help deliver Labor's election commitment to build 100,000 homes exclusively for first home buyers, which the Prime Minister announced during Labor’s Campaign Launch.

Residential housing construction and civil construction trades, crucial to housing development, will be included.

The operations of the program, including relevant occupations for inclusion, will be based on local labour market needs, which we will work through with states and territories.

This announcement builds on the Labor Government’s record of getting more skilled workers into the construction sector, which includes:

• Free TAFE, which has seen around 600,000 enrolments so far across Australia
• From 1 July, paying apprentices $10,000 in incentives to take up apprenticeships in housing construction
• Upping the living away from home allowance for the first time in 20 years
• Paying employers more to take on an apprentice living with a disability
• Investing more than $60 million in the Building Women’s Careers program, focused at hiring, training and retaining more women in the sector

This is in stark contrast to the Liberal Party, which ripped $3 billion out of TAFE and training over a decade of neglect last time they were in Government, and have committed to cut Free TAFE for Australians.

Peter Dutton’s skills policy platform is a reheat of failed programs, which see money go to employers but provide nothing new for apprentices and aspiring tradies.

There are 50,000 more trade apprentices now than there were under the former Liberal Government and only an Albanese Labor Government will ensure that number continues to grow.

This election commitment will cost $78 million over the forward estimates and the program will start in 2026.

Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

 “We are tackling the housing shortage from every responsible angle to build more homes, more quickly, in all parts of Australia.

“We have a $43 billion plan to construct more homes around the country and our investments in skills and training are playing an important role in putting that plan into action."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil:

 “It’s tomorrow’s tradies who will help us build our way out of this housing crisis, and Labor is backing them in, every step of the way.
 
“Under Labor, we’re investing in the skilled workers we need to build more homes across our cities, suburbs and regions.
 
“The choice at this election couldn’t be clearer, between a Labor Party investing in training up our tradies with free TAFE, or a Coalition of cuts and chaos."
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:

“We are building Australia’s future by giving Australians the skills and qualifications they want, in sectors we need.

“The program will recognise the skills of up to 6,000 experienced but unqualified trade workers in the housing and construction sector, at no cost to the worker.

“Apprenticeship pathways are a key contributor to the workforce – but for adult workers, particularly those supporting a family, the thought of ‘restarting’ their career with an apprenticeship is a barrier to getting qualified in their trade.

“We are making it easier for workers with existing knowledge and skills to get the recognition and qualifications they deserve.” 

BACKGROUND

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that there are more than 70,000 building and plumbing labourers in Australia who currently work alongside trade qualified workers.

The NSW Government’s pilot Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers pilot program has seen more than 1,200 students gain their trade qualification in an average time of 7 months, rather than years.

The NSW program was developed in consultation with NSW Industry Training Advisory Boards, Ai Group, Unions NSW and Business NSW.

To be eligible in NSW, you had to be 21 years of age or older and had a minimum 2 years of work experience in the trade that you will be undertaking training in, be currently working in the industry associated with the qualification being undertaken, or have worked in the industry within the last five years.

Eligibility criteria for the Commonwealth funded program will be determined in consultation with states and territories, but will be similar to the above.

There are 50,000 more trade apprentices in training than under the Liberal Government pre-pandemic (2019). This includes more than 20,000 additional apprentices working in the construction industry.