Labor has sought to placate business concerns about the potential exclusion of construction workers from an overhauled skilled visa system, by making it easier for builders and other tradies eligible to migrate to Australia in a bid to ease the housing crisis.

The Albanese government is in the midst of creating a three-tier skilled migration system, with separate visa streams for low-paid care workers, highly paid professionals earning more than $135,000, and a “core” stream for workers earning between $70,000 and $135,000 where there is a skills shortage.