Housing industry wants budget skills and jobs shake-up

The housing sector’s pre-budget submission calls for an overhaul to prepare for years of growth. Read what they want.

The Northern Territory’s peak housing industry body wants this year’s budget and election priorities to include land release, housing supply and crime reduction measures.

Housing Industry Association executive director Luis Espinoza said the Territory must be ready for the next economic boom and population and skills retention should be front of mind in the government’s budget and for all parties at August’s election.

Mr Espinoza said the HIA’s Territory budget submission formed part of a wider request to the NT government to invest in future housing construction, affordability, land release and “maintaining a stock ready for release when needed”.

Executive director Housing Industry Association Luis Espinoza. Picture Julianne Osborne

It comes as Fidelity Fund building certification levels remain low, with just 15 new house build certificates issued in January after 14 in December.

Mr Espinoza said the budget should cut red tape around process approvals, attracting people to the NT through simpler working VISA approvals in skill shortage areas and put an end to antisocial behaviour, crime and tackle the cost of living.

“The armed forces are coming, mining will grow, investments will happen, but we need to house the workers and their families that make the move to the Territory and we need to keep them here,” he said.

He called for a widespread education program to promote the “substantive” career opportunities in the trades generally and building industry specifically.

“HIA would like to see a long-term commitment to employer and apprentice subsidies to encourage more employers to take on apprentices and to support them through their apprenticeships,” he said.

As part of a multi-pronged skills retention program apprentices should receive a $1000 tool bonus starter kit and a $500 supplement each year.

“This would help build up their tool kits and reward for year on year milestones through their apprenticeship,” he said.

A consequence of HIA’s support for improved construction standards resulted in more and more regulation being placed on building businesses in addition to existing economic uncertainty.

He said all parties should support genuine planning reform including reductions in levies and taxes on land and new homes, increasing land supply and infill opportunities, home building stimulation, worker attraction and upskilling, regulatory certainty, red tape removal and boosting transport and infrastructure spending.

“HIA will meet with all political parties in the lead up to the election to ensure political leaders understand the continued opportunity that exists in supporting residential building over the next term of government,” Mr Espinoza said.

Administered by Master Builders NT, the Fidelity Fund data shows seven house extensions were certified in January along with the 15 houses.

• The bullet point summary was created with the assistance of AI technology (PaLM2) then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Housing industry wants budget skills and jobs shake-up