Home Australia Tradies to get a $10,000 handout under desperate new scheme by Anthony Albanese ahead of federal election

Tradies to get a $10,000 handout under desperate new scheme by Anthony Albanese ahead of federal election

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce bold plan to attract more young Australians into the construction sector

Anthony Albanese has promised a $10,000 bonus payment to apprentices, in an election promise aimed at encouraging more young Australians to take up tools.

If elected, Labor would introduce a total of $10,000 in incentive payments to professionals undertaking apprenticeships from July 2025.

Albanese will announce the payments in his speech at the National Press Club on Friday.

The scheme aims to encourage more young Australians to undertake internships in the residential housing sector and ultimately build more homes.

It would form part of Albanese’s ambitious plan to build 1.2 million new homes over the next five years.

The announcement comes after experts suggested the prime minister’s vision would be hampered by a shortfall of around 90,000 workers in the industry.

Under its Key Apprenticeship Scheme, jobs such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and joiners would be eligible for the payments.

“We recognize that the next generation of tradespeople, the people we are counting on to build the new homes we need, are under significant financial pressure,” Albanese will tell the National Press Club tomorrow, according to an excerpt of his speech.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce bold plan to attract more young Australians into the construction sector

‘As several apprentices have said, they could earn a lot more stacking shelves at their local supermarket.

“Too many leave training because they cannot afford to stay.”

However, to ensure workers don’t take the money and leave, the cash would be staggered throughout their apprenticeship.

The government would pay $2,000 across months six, 12, 24 and 36 of the apprenticeship, with the final windfall awarded upon completion.

The incentives would cost $626.9 million, according to government estimates.

The Prime Minister will say the scheme is a natural addition to the Government’s previous commitments to free TAFE education.

It will also look to address construction worker shortages with increases to support payments to apprentices living away from home.

“We are going to provide more support to traders while they train,” he will say.

If elected, Labor would introduce a total of $10,000 in incentive payments to professionals undertaking internships from July 2025.

If elected, Labor would introduce a total of $10,000 in incentive payments to professionals undertaking internships from July 2025.

‘Today I announce that we will increase the subsidy paid to apprentices living away from home.

“It is the first time this payment has increased since 2003.”

That subsidy currently amounts to $77.17 per week for freshmen and less for later years.

The $10,000 grants would support apprentices in residential construction in line with training incentives for those working in the energy sector.

However, only 2,200 apprentices accepted the $10,000 payment when the Albanian government launched that initiative to support “green jobs.”

The Prime Minister’s planned press club speech will come almost exactly a year after he made a similar appearance to announce plans to reallocate stage three tax cuts.

Both parties reluctantly approved the adjustments in parliament, giving the prime minister a political victory in the eyes of many voters.

Albanese is likely to hope that his apprenticeship payments can have a similar effect in the run-up to this year’s election, the timing of which remains in doubt.

The scheme would form part of Albanese's ambitious plan to build 1.2 million new homes over the next five years.

The scheme would form part of Albanese’s ambitious plan to build 1.2 million new homes over the next five years.

The government has been keen to suggest that the solution to the country’s housing crisis lies in building more homes.

However, the Coalition has suggested they would approach the crisis from a different angle.

They have told voters they would allow buyers to dip into their super for at least $50,000 to put down deposits on their first homes.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has also said he would reduce migration for housing.

Federal elections must be held on or before May 17.

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