A future Labor government will back tradies building Queensland by waiving rego fees for priority construction trade apprentices and their supervisors.

Queensland faces a massive skilled workforce blackhole ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games which will peak at a shortfall of 35,000, putting pressure on the ability to deliver homes, hospitals, schools, roads, rail and infrastructure.

This shortfall is made worse by fewer young Queenslanders picking up the tools under the LNP, compared to 2024.

The LNP has no plan to address this worker blackhole besides their slogan “beg, borrow and steal”.

It’s why Labor will build an army of workers by backing tradies building Queensland – a plan to get young people to pick up the tools, and the businesses to put them on site.

A future Labor government will waive priority trade apprentice’s car rego for their training period.

To also encourage small and family businesses to take on an apprentice, their workplace supervisor’s rego will be waived too.

That represents a saving of up to $590 a year, over a four-year apprenticeship. That’s huge savings for apprentice carpenters whose weekly wage can start at just $638.

It’s just one thing we can do to get more Queenslanders on the tools on Queensland jobsites.

That means free rego for chippies, sparkies, roofers, painters and plumbers, and their apprentice – putting money back in their pockets to boost skilled workers in our economy.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Labor Leader Steven Miles:

“A government I lead will back Queensland tradies to build Queensland.

“As the affordability crisis bites, fewer Queenslanders are picking up the tools in favour of other industries where starting salaries are higher.

“We need to give young people more reasons to choose a construction trade.

“By waiving rego fees for priority trade apprentices and their supervisors we can get more Queenslanders on the tools and on Queensland jobsites.

“Tradies, especially regional tradies, don’t benefit from a bus or a train timetable with 50 cent fares when they’re carrying a tray full of tools.

“This is about easing the pressure on the budget, while an army of workers build the homes, hospitals, schools, roads and infrastructure Queensland needs.

“It’s part of our plan to build Queensland, for the future.”

 Quotes attributable to Shadow Skills and Training Minister Michael Healy:

“Queensland needs an army of tradies to build the homes, roads and infrastructure our growing state needs.

“The Crisafulli Government is not doing enough to get the tradies we need, which is why Labor is listening to Industry and will work with them to ensure better outcomes for has apprentices and businesses.

“Pick up the tools, get an apprentice on a job site and you’ll save big on rego.”

MORE INFORMATION

The $94 million initiative, over four years, will support free rego for eligible construction trade 
apprentices. 

Free rego will also extend to eligible trade supervisors operating in a small business, overseeing an eligible construction trade apprentice. 

Eligible apprentices will be participating in Queensland approved trade apprenticeship, such as electricians, motor mechanics, carpenters and joiners, plumbers and sheet metal workers

It could save eligible apprentices and their supervisor $590 a year each (6 cylinder rego minus CTP) over the training course.

That’s huge savings for apprentice carpenters whose weekly wage can start at just $638 (based on a 25-26 first year apprentice carpentry wage, where they haven’t completed Year 12.)

https://www.migas.com.au/blog/what-1st-year-apprentices-get-paid-2025-2026-award-wages-guide 

According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Queensland has 50,094 trade apprentices in training.

Third party speakers:

Karlee Derek (fourth year apprentice plumber)

Fahima Ahmadi (member of Queensland's multicultural community)