Fee-free TAFE: Additional placements for Queensland construction courses announced
Construction worker shortages are forecast to ease modestly, with the federal government backing its long-term strategy while swatting away suggestions of immigration cuts for immediate housing relief.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Construction worker shortages are forecast to ease modestly, with the federal government backing its long-term strategy while swatting away suggestions of immigration cuts for immediate housing relief.
An additional 4100 fee-free TAFE places are set to open across Queensland targeting housing and construction courses, with the scheme already having accepted over 93,000 students across the state in varying pathways since January 2023, including 6000 in Cairns.
Making the announcement in Cairns at the construction site of 18 social homes on Gatton St, federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles accepted the initiative was a long-term solution towards boosting housing supply, with the additional places set to commence in January 2025.
Further, he rebutted concerns fee-free TAFE was not working with students reportedly failing to graduate, by noting the scheme had only begun last year and the average course would not be completed yet.
It comes as Australian businessman on Dick Smith on Tuesday said the nation should cut its migration numbers to 75,000 per year “for young people who will find it more difficult to buy a house”.
“I’m not aware of exactly what Dick Smith said, but that’s probably consistent with remarks he’s been making for some time,” Mr Giles said.
“What we are doing is bringing migration back to the sort of expected levels that we had pre-Covid.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed the nation had accepted 356,940 permanent migrants between January and August this year.
Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell while he welcomed the fee-free initiative, only 41,934 new construction apprentices commenced studies in 2023 – down 22.2 per cent from 2022.
“Advocacy at a national level for skilled migrants to help address workforce shortages is just one piece of a very complex puzzle – and there are obviously challenges with where these workers would be housed,” he said.
Mr Bidwell doubled down on calls he made earlier this year for a clean up of Best Practice Industry Conditions, which he stated contributed up to 96 working days being lost on construction sites where the state government provision applied.
“There is no doubt that in the current tight labour market, BPIC has flow-on effects to the private sector, because the trades engaged by builders expect similar conditions whether it’s a BPIC project or not.”
In the week the nation marked one year since the Voice to Parliament referendum, Indigenous leaders called for greater involvement in the economy to improve regularly spoken-of issues including health and housing.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch presented correspondence from Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council with the local government seeking outstanding funds to construct six one-bedroom units, using a “local trade force.”
Minister Giles was asked what plans his government had, in relation to construction skills, to boost Indigenous participation with a focus on the Far North.
“What we know we need to do across a whole range of occupations, particularly in the trades, is to make sure that we’re breaking down all of the barriers so that every Australian can be part of building our common future,” he said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Fee-free TAFE: Additional placements for Queensland construction courses announced
‘Wouldn’t be here without her’: Butcher’s recipe for success
A passion for serving their community has been at the forefront of Babinda Meats owners Wendy and Salvatore ‘Tootie’ Nucifora’s success.
Cairns Regional Council to appoint its next CEO
Cairns Regional Council will appoint its top boss today with the controversial frontrunner expected to miss out on the key civic post.