Builders ask Labor for civil construction skills support

Construction industry leaders have urged the government to support civil construction skills and training in a bid to boost housing supply.

‘Without these foundational works, housing construction simply cannot proceed’. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

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Construction industry leaders have urged the Albanese government to support civil construction skills and training in a bid to boost housing supply.

In a letter seen by The Australian, the Civil Contractors Federation, Master Builders Australia, and the Urban Development ­Institute told Anthony Albanese that civil construction was “often unseen and overlooked”, but was “critical” for housing.

“This includes subdividing and clearing lots, constructing essential road networks for residential and connecting infrastructure, and ensuring vital utilities such as water, electricity, and sewage are in place,” the letter reads.

“Without these foundational works, housing construction simply cannot proceed, making civil construction an essential first step in any new development.”

The organisations said a recent survey predicted a shortfall of 197,000 workers over the next five years, and that apprenticeship qualification rates in civil trades were at 20 to 40 per cent, compared to more than 50 per cent in other construction trades.

“This ongoing shortage threatens the timely and cost-effective delivery of the infrastructure needed to support housing growth, as well as the increasing demand for civil works in renewable energy developments,” the letter reads.

The organisations pointed to lagging dwelling construction starts in the past few years.

“The government cannot shift the dial on housing delivery unless civil construction is properly recognised and prioritised,” Master Builders chief executive Denita Wawn, Civil Contractors chief executive Nicholas Proud and Urban Development Institute president Col Dutton wrote.

“Civil construction is the first step in any new housing development – without roads, drainage, and essential services, homes cannot be built. Industry is increasingly concerned that current incentive programs, including the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System and Labor’s broader construction incentives, fail to include civil construction skills. This omission risks further exacerbating workforce shortages at a time when demand for civil works is growing.

“We urge the government to extend its construction incentive programs to civil construction ­apprentices, ensuring that the skilled workforce required to meet Australia’s infrastructure and housing needs is supported.”

The Coalition’s plan focuses on greenfield construction while Labor’s is more agnostic about what kind of housing gets built.