The Queensland Government has collaborated with industry to develop a roadmap to increase the state’s construction workforce capacity.
The partnership aims to address challenges including national worker shortages and flatlining productivity that are impacting infrastructure projects across the nation.
Queensland is determined to set a new standard in the delivery of vital infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, homes and transport services that are key to building thriving communities.
A pilot in Cairns will explore ways to coordinate infrastructure procurement and delivery and grow workforce capacity with early work underway across agencies.
In recognising that new and innovative ways to deliver infrastructure are needed, the roadmap includes targets for government to work towards 50 per cent use of modern methods of construction (MMC).
The Infrastructure Productivity and Workforce Roadmap and Action Plan delivers on a commitment made in the State Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2042, with a focus on:
- Commercial – continuing and promoting the use of best practice with industry
- Governance and frameworks – engaging and supporting decision making
- Innovation, digital and data – including technology like digital twins
- Skills and training – meeting demand for growth and future skills
- Workforce wellbeing and diversity – becoming an industry of choice for a diverse workforce
The State Government is investing more than $107 billion in infrastructure over the next four years delivering government priorities that support population growth and liveability.
Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, said that new hospitals, roads, rail, homes for Queenslanders and transformational infrastructure are the building blocks of the state’s future.
“And the government is doing what matters to deliver our multi-billion-dollar Big Build,” Mr Miles said.
“Our new roadmap sets out how we achieve that – driving productivity and workforce improvements across industry so we can do more and build more.
“Queenslanders can trust that a government I lead has a plan for the future, and we’re going to deliver it.”
Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, said that Queensland’s construction industry employs around 280,000 people and contributed $34.2 billion to Queensland’s economy in 2022-23.
“With our growing population, we need to keep building capacity in a sector that’s vital to creating the homes, schools, hospitals and roads of the future,” Ms Grace said.
“Building smarter with a highly skilled workforce is the key to boosting productivity and industry is partnering with us to achieve this.
“MMC is something that’s happening across government already, but we want to see more of it and make it more consistent.
“This work builds on the extensive support and investment the State Government has already made to support the construction sector having the pipeline of tradies it needs to thrive.
“This includes expanding our free TAFE construction apprentices to over 25s, providing $1,000 cash back on tools for first years and ensuring 10-15 per cent of the hours on our Games Minor Venues contracts are reserved for apprentices or trainees.
“We value the support of industry and stakeholders such as the Infrastructure Association of Queensland and the Australian Constructors Association as we embark on the biggest decade of infrastructure delivery in the state’s history.”
Infrastructure Association of Queensland CEO, Louise Van Ristell, said that the association has always valued its collaboration with the Queensland Government.
“Partnering with them on the Infrastructure Productivity and Workforce Roadmap is an excellent continuation of this,” Ms Van Ristell said.
“We’re excited by the potential of their Cairns pilot which is the sort of innovative thinking we need to have greater impact in Queensland’s regional areas.”
Australian Constructors Association CEO, Jon Davis, said that lifting productivity and improving culture within the construction sector as necessary to improve the sustainability of the industry.
“We’re pleased to have worked with the Queensland Government in developing this important roadmap,” Mr Davis said.
“Targets, for things like adoption of modern methods of construction and standardised design, are crucial for achieving the progress that we all desire.”
Image: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/shutterstock.com
