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HIA WA Executive Director Michael McGowan stated that the extended subsidy will help alleviate the financial burden on employers investing in the next generation of skilled workers, ultimately boosting housing supply and reducing pressure on housing affordability.
"Combined with the introduction of over 2,000 fee-free TAFE courses, this shows that the Government is listening to industry needs and placing a priority on developing a strong skilled residential workforce," said Mr. McGowan.
"The GTO Wage Subsidy program has been incredibly successful so far, enabling employers to train more apprentices and equip them with skills that will serve them for a lifetime. This initiative supports businesses by lowering costs, which allows builders and trades to concentrate on training apprentices and building more homes."
Over the past four years, more than 40,000 Western Australians have started apprenticeships in the construction sector. While this is a promising trend, Mr. McGowan emphasized the need to maintain this momentum to meet the projected demand for skilled workers over the next decade.
"Given the State’s significant investment in the construction industry, we're seeing people from diverse backgrounds exploring apprenticeships as a viable career path. As an industry, we are committed to supporting as many of these individuals as possible to become skilled tradespeople.
“Given the strong demand we need to continue to find ways to attract local, interstate, and international talent to Western Australia to dramatically increase our residential building workforce right around the state.
“The economic future of Western Australia is extremely positive, however much of that depends on having a skilled workforce capable of delivering on those aspirations. A strong residential construction workforce is essential to housing the future residents of our State,” Mr McGowan concluded.
“Home building materials have continued to experience only modest cost increases, up by 1.6 per cent in the 2024/25 financial year,” stated HIA Senior Economist, Maurice Tapang.
“Today’s interim report from the Productivity Commission overwhelmingly backs what HIA has long been saying - that the regulatory burden on businesses is getting worse in this country and there is need for a major overhaul on the approach to regulation,” said HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin.
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the release of the Queensland Productivity Commission’s interim report into construction productivity It is a significant and necessary step toward overcoming the housing supply challenges facing Queensland,” said Michael Roberts, HIA Executive Director Queensland.
“New home building approvals in the 2024/25 financial year were up by 13.9 per cent compared to their 2023/24 trough,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.