Election battle returns to the home front with Labor tradies pledge

Perth Now22-04-2025

Labor is proposing to spend $78 million to train 6000 extra tradies, in the latest federal election promise relating to housing.
Anthony Albanese's election commitment will establish the Advanced Entry Trades Training program to help experienced but unqualified workers get new qualifications.
Research from Master Builders Australia shows that for every new qualified tradie, an extra 2.4 houses will be built each year.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers claims Labor is 'tackling the housing shortage from every responsible angle to build more homes, more quickly, in all parts of Australia'.
'We have a $43 billion plan to construct more homes around the country,' Chalmers said.
'Our investments in skills and training are playing an important role in putting that plan into action.'
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil says, 'It's tomorrow's tradies who will help us build our way out of this housing crisis, and Labor is backing them in, every step of the way'.
'Under Labor, we're investing in the skilled workers we need to build more homes across our cities, suburbs and regions,' she continued.
'The choice at this election couldn't be clearer, between a Labor Party investing in training up our tradies with free TAFE, or a Coalition of cuts and chaos.'
The Coalition last week announced it would spend $260 million to build 12 technical colleges around the nation to train high school students.
'Australian Technical Colleges are specialist skills schools for years 10-12 or 11-12,' The Liberal and National parties say.
'Students are enrolled in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship as well as academic and business courses that lead to a Year 12 certificate.'
Voters under 45 will decide the election, and polling shows housing is a key issue for them.