Millions pledges to cover fee-free TAFE to get more workers into housing construction
The federal government is promising to grow the construction workforce by covering the cost of training an extra 20,000 people. The building industry says it is a welcome start, but tens of thousands more workers are needed to meet the government’s own housing goal.
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00:00 Construction is well underway at this Adelaide home as they manage to get the products and
00:08 trades needed but it's expected to soon ramp up.
00:12 "There will be a lot more pressure on us as builders to be able to keep up with the
00:17 demand so we need trades."
00:18 The government's been drawing up a plan to help, promising 20,000 extra TAFE and pre-apprenticeship
00:25 spots from January to train up future construction workers.
00:29 "We need more tradies to build more homes."
00:32 The goal set by the government is to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 but an independent
00:39 report last week found that target would be missed.
00:42 The Treasurer also admitting it won't add up without a lot more workers.
00:47 "That's why we're making this $90 million investment in the budget."
00:51 "If this government builds 1.2 million homes by 2059 I will be amazed."
00:58 The industry's been saying it needs the workforce to urgently grow by 90,000.
01:02 "It's a start."
01:04 A plan also to make it easier for 4,500 skilled migrants to get construction jobs by fast
01:11 tracking applications and ensuring those who are already here can put their qualifications
01:16 to use.
01:17 "What a waste of someone who's got a skill to help build a home and all they get to do
01:22 is drive an Uber."
01:23 But the workforce isn't the only challenge.
01:26 "A key component of the reason why we're not building them is that private investment
01:32 in home building has dried up.
01:35 Why has it dried up?
01:36 Because simply it's become too expensive to build."
01:40 As well as housing supply, the cost of renting continues to be a big issue and the government's
01:46 under pressure to use next week's budget to provide more rent assistance.
01:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]