Securing Tasmania’s Future by Creating a "High Vis" Army

A majority liberal government will:

  • Boost capacity and skills to unleash our building and construction sector.
  • Provide $1 million each per annum, over four years to the Civil Contractors Federation and Master Builders Tasmania to attract more workers to the industry and encourage Tasmanians to pursue careers in the industry, with
    • MBT to build capacity in the construction industry and identify and fill skills gaps.
    • CCF to develop a skills audit program to understand and fill skills gaps.

We will:

  • Ensure both organisations work closely with TasTAFE to complement existing skills and training programs.
  • Develop an MOU with both CCF and MBT for collaboration on delivery of infrastructure projects.
  • Release a detailed project pipeline, updated every six months so industry has confidence to plan for workforce growth and apprenticeship and trainee needs.
  • Hold twice-yearly roundtables to address barriers to delivery.
  • Support the CCF to work with TasWater to ensure a consistent pipeline of projects.
  • Encourage the Federal Government to recognise civil trade occupations on the National Skills List.

A re-elected Majority Liberal Government is committed to an ambitious, comprehensive infrastructure program to deliver projects right across the State, to secure Tasmania’s future, deliver the infrastructure Tasmanians deserve, and continue to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Master Builders Tasmania estimates that over the next decade, the building and construction sector will build $16 billion worth of public and private projects and construct 30,000 homes.

To deliver this significant pipeline of public and private projects, the industry estimates the building and construction workforce will need to increase by 25 per cent over the next term of government.

To help industry to build a High-Vis Army and boost capacity and skills to unleash our building and construction sector, a re-elected Liberal Government will provide $1 million each per annum, over four years to the Civil Contractors Federation and Master Builders Tasmania to attract more workers to the industry and encourage Tasmanians to pursue careers in the industry.

This funding will support the Civil Contract Federation and Master Builders Tasmania to work with industry and increase the workforce available for building infrastructure in Tasmania.

Master Builders Tasmania will attract more workers to the sector and build capacity in the construction training system, including identifying skills gaps in areas of need.

Civil Contractors Federation will attract more workers to their sector and develop a skills audit program to help civil contractors identify and resolve skills gaps which need filling and also to extend the successful ‘Your Speed is Our Safety’ campaign.

The Civil Contractors Federation and Master Builders Tasmania will work with the Government to assist with broadening marketing and attraction programs to encourage people to pursue a career in the building and construction industry.

Engagement will be undertaken with schools from as early as late primary and young people as well as mature age Tasmanians will be encouraged to consider upskilling to pursue opportunities available in building and construction.

Both organisations will work closely with Government and TasTAFE to complement existing skills and training programs.

A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will develop Memoranda of Understanding with both the Civil Contractors Federation and Master Builders Tasmania to commit to improving skills and training and boosting capacity in the building and construction industry.

This will formalise the relationship between both organisations and the Government on how all parties will collaborate to deliver on infrastructure commitments.

We will also work across Government, to release a detailed project pipeline, updated every six months so that the industry has confidence to plan for workforce growth and apprenticeship and trainee needs.

In addition, roundtables will be held twice yearly involving the building and construction sector, Infrastructure Tasmania and relevant Government agencies to discuss the project pipeline and address any barriers to the timely roll-out of infrastructure commitments.

The Government will also support the Civil Contractors Federation to work closely with TasWater and its owner councils to ensure there is a consistent pipeline of projects to improve TasWater’s infrastructure.

We will encourage the Federal Government to recognise civil trade occupations on the National Skills List.

To further support jobs and skills in Tasmania, a re-elected Liberal Government will:

  • Invest an additional $98.5 million into our public training provider TasTAFE over the next four years, including – 100 extra TasTAFE teachers to train more young Tasmanians to quickly meet the needs of industry and business.
  • $45 million for critical facility and equipment upgrades, new buildings and new student accommodation.
  • $16 million to increase access for rural and regional students
  • $7 million to the Water, Energy and Trades facility to increase student accommodation options and allow 30 more students to stay onsite during their training. This builds on our $7 million to include a new electrical training and delivery space at the TasTAFE’s Clarence Campus.
  • Support more than 2,000 Tasmanians into jobs by investing $10.6 million to establish four new jobs hubs in regional communities around Tasmania and expand the coverage of the Northern Employment and Business Hub.
  • Create new local Jobs Hubs in Burnie, Brighton, Huonville and St Helens, and expand the Northern Employment and Business Hub.
  • Fund Youth Connections for existing Hubs at Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town to focus on young Tasmanians.

The Liberal Majority Government is also:

  • Delivering a landmark $5 billion infrastructure program over the next 4 years, which is expected to support around 25,000 jobs. Of this, $2.4 billion will be invested in roads and bridge upgrades.
  • Establishing a Job Ready Fund of $2 million to help job seekers gain essential tools they need to get a job. Such as White Card licencing, working with vulnerable people checks, boots, protective clothing, equipment or a tool-box.
  • Expanding our Area Connect Service to get more people to work, training or education where no easy transport options exist. We will invest $3.2 million and expand the current transport services to 16 Local Government Areas, up from six;
  • Developing a $400,000 Workers Connect Portal, providing Tasmanian business and jobseekers with information about local jobs, as well as the programs and the support services available;
  • Delivering a Regional Jobs Show and Events program with $200,000 available to showcase local employment and industry opportunities in partnership with regional jobs hubs and community groups;
  • Expanding our successful Job Matching Service with an additional $2.4 million to place more jobseekers with local employer vacancies; and Introducing the Tasmanian Employer Bonus, incentivising employers to take on a long-term, unemployed job seeker, by investing invest $6.5 million over two years to help employers take on job seekers who have experience and skills but need a fair go, with a $6,500 incentive to those employers.
  • Providing a $10 million Headworks Holiday for new residential subdivisions.
  • Delivering a payroll tax rebate for apprentices and trainees.

Costings:

This policy costs $8 million over four years.