<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336920</docID> <postdate>2025-01-24 11:37:15</postdate> <headline>Call for employer incentives as apprentices get boost</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336921" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20170515001305943890-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="551" /></p> <caption>The prime minister will unveil increased allowances in a bid to keep apprentices in their trade. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Kat Wong</strong> and <strong>Tess Ikonomou</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Bold thinking is needed to tackle Australia's housing crisis, stakeholders say, but it is unclear whether the government's pre-election apprenticeship promise is enough.</strong></p> <p>The prime minister will use an address at the National Press Club to unveil a $626 million expansion of an apprentice incentive program.</p> <p>From July, eligible tradies-in-training in housing construction or clean energy will receive $10,000, paid in $2000 instalments at the six, 12, 24 and 36-month milestones, and upon completion.</p> <p>While the announcement has received broad support from the Australian Council of Trade Unions alongside business and property groups, there are concerns it does not go far enough.</p> <p>Not enough is being done to motivate employers, Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black has said.</p> <p>"A new approach is needed to reflect the real cost of taking on a young trainee," he said.</p> <p>"Business plays a vital role in training, and so it follows that if incentives aren't increased for employers, we'll see fewer employment opportunities offered, which will ultimately exacerbate our nation-wide skills gaps."</p> <p>It also is not clear that the program would attract more workers.</p> <p>The announcement is an expansion of a pre-existing incentive for apprentices in renewable energy, but a year after this was unveiled, less than 20 per cent of spots have been taken up.</p> <p>The Housing Industry Association welcomed the incentives but managing director Jocelyn Martin noted they were just "one tool in the toolkit" and has previously said the government's focus on fee-free TAFE was "distracting from the real issue facing the supply of housing".</p> <p>Property Council chief executive Mike Zorbas said boosting apprenticeship numbers is essential to solving the housing supply puzzle.</p> <p>"Australia needs more bold thinking like this as we face headwinds in getting to our important national target of 1.2 million new homes," he said.</p> <p>But Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn insists there is "no better time to pick up the tools and become a tradie".</p> <p>This is the first time the allowance has been increased since 2003.</p> <p>"We recognise the next generation of tradies - the people we're counting on to build the new homes we need - are under significant financial pressure," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will say in his speech on Friday.</p> <p>"Too many leave training, because they can't afford to stay.</p> <p>"More new homes, more new energy and more support for the tradies who will build both."</p> <p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said close to zero of the 1.2 million homes the government promised had actually been built.</p> <p>"It just hasn't happened, and that's why people are feeling the crunch," he told Nine's Today.</p> <p>"They can't rent a house, they can't buy a house and people are right to be angry."</p> <p>Mr Albanese has previously used his beginning-of-year press club address to unveil major reforms.</p> <p>During his 2024 speech, the prime minister revealed he would rejig stage-three tax cuts to provide more for middle-income earners after promising to deliver the former coalition government's original plan.</p> <p>With voters set to hit the ballot boxes before May 17, Mr Albanese is expected to use the upcoming opportunity as a pre-election launching pad.</p> <p>He has spent the first weeks of the year courting voters across the country with infrastructure funding and a promise to "build Australia's future".</p> <p>Cost of living is expected to be at the front of voters' minds.</p> <p>Though the government has provided relief through changes to prescriptions, energy bill help and other policies, polling suggests Australians have grown increasingly disillusioned with Labor.</p> <p>Many have instead turned to independents and minor parties, increasing the likelihood of a minority government.</p> </body>