By Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon
In response to a State Budget that was very light on cost-of living relief, Queensland Labor responded with a plan to provide free vehicle registration for construction apprentices and their supervisors.
An Opposition is meant to provide the people of Queensland with an alternative, and this is
just one of many initiatives that Labor is committing to deliver.
Our housing shortage is driving prices up and Queensland needs a construction army.
We need more young people picking up the tools and pursuing rewarding careers in the trades.
While many Queenslanders are taking advantage of Labor’s 50 cent fares initiative, that’s not an option for apprentices – a vehicle isn’t a luxury, it’s an essential part of the job.
They need to carry tools, travel between worksites and get to training, often at times and locations where public transport simply isn’t an option.
The apprentices I met in Beenleigh at the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre were passionate about their future and proud of the skills they are learning.
They are among the next generation of plumbers, electricians, carpenters and construction workers who will help build the homes, schools, roads and infrastructure our communities need.
But we also know that attracting more young people into trades is becoming harder.
Cost-of-living pressures are forcing many to think twice about career choices, especially when apprentice wages can be modest in those early years.
Providing free registration is a practical way to ease some of that burden.
It puts money back into the pockets of apprentices and helps small businesses that take on the responsibility of training them.
It’s a simple idea that recognises the important contribution tradies make to our economy and our communities.
The conversations I had at the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre reinforced that when we support apprentices, we’re investing in Queensland’s future.
Learning a trade shouldn’t come with unnecessary extra costs, and initiatives like free rego can help make that journey a little easier for the hardworking young Queenslanders building the future of our state.
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