The Federal Government’s waiving of fees for TAFE and VET courses to address a lack of workers throughout the construction industry has been endorsed by Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn, who believes it will ensure the industry is bolstered at a time when additional workers are crucial to building new houses and infrastructure.

MBA has worked closely alongside the Albanese Government since its pre-budget submission, which detailed a number of policy proposals that could increase industry participation.

Wawn believes that the changes will boost domestic capacity and make it easier for migrants to work in construction.

“If we are going to have any chance of building enough homes we have to prioritise capacity building of the industry. Workforce shortages remain the biggest source of cost pressure and disruption for the building and construction industry.”

The construction industry has an annual exit rate of eight percent, with only half of those being replaced. MBA estimates that labour shortages are reducing industry output by $50 billion, which is thousands of homes at a time when housing levels are critical.

Wawn says that it is now up to state and territorial governments to ensure registered training organisations (RTOs), much like Master Builders, are held on equal footing with TAFE.

“Industry-run RTOs like those run by Master Builders associations around the country have excellent retention and completion rates, provide pastoral care and support to apprentices that help them find success in their trade.

Wawn has called for an increase in skilled migrants, and hopes the federal government will be able to amend legislation to do so.

“We know in the short-term the domestic workforce cannot keep up with demand. Skilled migration represents a vital piece of the puzzle,” she says.

“The investment into prioritising and streamlining skills assessments for potential migrants and those already in the country is welcome news. For many migrants, it is simply too hard to have their professional capacity recognised to work in a trade in Australia, and they are instead in roles that present fewer hurdles to obtain.

“There is still a long way to go and Master Builders will continue to work closely with the government to ensure we make the building and construction industry as attractive as possible.”