WA offers NZ tradies $10K to move west

The West Australian government is offering Kiwi construction workers a $10,000 incentive to start a new life in the west in an attempt to solve labour shortage issues in its residential construction centre. First announced on November 13 for construction workers living in other states, the Build a Life in WA program will expand to encompass tradies from across the ditch, Premier Roger Cook say. Under the scheme, an initial payment of $5000 will be paid once the applicant secures a role with a WA-based employer, with the remaining half paid out after six months on the job. Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the scheme proved the state government was “doing everything we can to boost the building and construction workforce so we can unlock more housing for Western Australians”. It comes as the state grapples with an increasingly severe housing crisis made worse by labour shortages across the construction sector. It’s hoped the scheme will fill these shortages by targeting workers skilled in “critical trades”, including bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, electrical and plumbing. Unlike those applying from interstate, Kiwis hoping to take advantage of the scheme will still need to be eligible for the Special Category visa (Subclass 444) in order to qualify. Mr Cook encouraged those weighing their options to “take the plunge”. “It’ll be the best move they’ll ever make with an ongoing pipeline of work for decades to come,” he said. In response to the Premier’s claim that the scheme is the best way to get “more boots on the ground so we can get homes built sooner”, Opposition Leader Shane Love described the move as “little more than a shameless rebrand of an existing policy”. Citing figures from Master Builders Australia, Mr Love said WA would need an estimated 55,000 additional construction workers by 2026. “If the government was serious about attracting interstate trades to WA, they would have listened and partnered with industry to make this policy a reality years ago.” he said.