Townsville Community Cabinet gives residents chance to highlight region’s key issues
As Townsville battles to find the workers needed to address the housing shortage, the state government’s imminent Community Cabinet will help residents air their priorities. Find out more.
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Adressing the housing and skilled worker shortage will be front and centre this weekend when Townsville hosts the state government’s Community Cabinet.
Community Cabinets directly connect local families, workers, and business owners with the Premier, Cabinet Ministers and Queensland Government executives to discuss local and regional opportunities, unique to the area.
Pre-confirmed residents will attend a community event on Sunday, May 25, ahead of Cabinet’s meeting on May 26.
Master Builders Queensland regional manager for North Queensland, Mark Vaughan looked forward to attending Sunday’s event, saying he also secured a private meeting Housing Minister Sam O’Connor and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie to discuss industry concerns for the region.
“There’s plenty to discuss, including the challenges for our industry right now, including labour shortages and red tape hampering construction, as well as our calls on boosting productivity on our worksites, and increasing housing supply, as we work to deliver the homes, schools, hospitals and community infrastructure our state needs,” Mr Vaughan said.
“The primary challenge for our industry right now is the shortage of skilled workers, which is now at a critical level. Construction Skills Queensland’s Horizon 2032 report tells us the shortfall in the number of construction workers needed will persist in the next eight years, intensifying to about 50,000 in 2026-27.
“Now, more than ever, we need the government working with industry to grow our workforce, attract more apprentice workers, and retain existing workers. This includes boosting wage subsidies for employers to encourage new apprentice placements, supporting small businesses with supervisory costs, and introducing financial incentives for apprentices upon completing their first year and again at graduation.”
He was also pushing for more women to join the industry, increased international skilled worker migration with accommodation to house them, and additional trunk infrastructure funding to unlock new land developments and subdivisions, and increase housing supply.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Townsville Community Cabinet was one of many ways his government was working to deliver a fresh start for North Queensland.
“We’re delivering the fresh start we promised and addressing youth crime, health, housing and cost of living,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“We’re just getting started delivering the change Queenslanders voted for and listening to North Queensland is an important next step.”
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Originally published as Townsville Community Cabinet gives residents chance to highlight region’s key issues
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