Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
THE WA government will pay $10,000 in relocation bonuses for tradies to make the move west across the Nullarbor from January 2025.
The $10,000 ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive is another incentive to bolster WA’s building and construction workforce to meet demand, especially for new homes.
Suitably qualified workers from all states and territories will be eligible for the scheme, WA Premier Roger Cook says.
“WA is the engine room of Australia … we know that it’s a big investment for people to choose to relocate to our state, which is why we’re offering a $10,000 payment to subsidise the costs of moving.
“Now is the time for eastern states tradies to start the job search, connect with employers and organise their trade registrations, so they can start the new year with a new job in Western Australia.”
Treasurer Rita Saffioti says they are doing “everything we can” to grow the workforce.
“The $10,000 ‘Build a Life in WA’ incentive is aimed at reducing the financial barriers people often face when choosing to relocate to pursue employment opportunities,” she says.
“For skilled tradies – such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters – WA offers well-paid and secure work with an ongoing pipeline of building and construction projects.”
PROPERTY COUNCIL
The Property Council of WA has backed the $10,000 relocation bonus.
Council WA Executive Director Nicola Brischetto says a critical shortage of skilled labour is one of the biggest barriers to building new homes on scale.
“Offering $10,000 cash incentives for skilled construction workers to cross the Nullarbor is a drastic move. Unfortunately, however, we need drastic intervention if Western Australia is going to build its way out of the housing crisis,” she says.
“Western Australia simply does not have enough workers in the residential construction market to build the homes we need.”
Brischetto says WA has the country’s fastest growing population and lowest unemployment rate.
“Western Australia will need to build 26,000 new homes each year to complete our fair share of the National Housing Accord target,” she says.
“The residential construction sector completed 17,700 in the 2023-24 financial years. Bringing more skilled construction workers into the state is essential to solving our housing crisis.”
The government is also spending $21.6 million on expanding its wage subsidy scheme with an additional 175 apprentice and trainee places.
For more details: Visit: www.jobs.wa.gov.au or www.buildalife.wa.gov.au
