Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that publicly owned QBuild has received the green light to double its own trades-based workers – growing QBuild to 1,000 tradies and apprentices by 2026.
Joining hundreds of workers for the Labour Day march in Brisbane, the premier said that with more tradies on hand, the government can build more housing as part of the largest concentrated investment in social and government employee housing in Queensland’s history.
The Rebuilding QBuild initiative, announced in 2019, aims to support the manufacturing of modern homes at QBuild’s Rapid Accommodation and Apprenticeships Centre at Eagle Farm and the proposed new RAAC facility in Cairns.
The program will, in turn, bolster Queensland’s construction sector in building government infrastructure projects in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.
“Our government is growing QBuild to 1,000 trade and apprentice positions by 2026 – with plans to further increase the ranks to 1,500 by 2029,” the premier said.
Palaszczuk claimed that the strength and expertise of Australia’s labour force would be used to construct the homes and schools of the future and will serve as an example for the following generation of apprentices.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick stated the new plant planned for Cairns and the contemporary building techniques used by QBuild are supported by our aim for progressive growth.
Both facilities want to greatly increase production in order to relieve pressure on local and remote rental markets, Dick added.
“We’ve timed this new phase of QBuild’s growth to provide an optimal response to market pressures and government needs,” the minister noted.
Meanwhile, Minister for Energy and Public Works Mick de Brenni underscored that QBuild tradies and apprentices “will be out there in our communities, in every region, from Thursday Island to Townsville, Bundaberg to Brisbane, and everywhere in between.”
Minister de Brenni stated the Rebuild QBuild program is a collaboration with Queensland trade unions to ensure the government regains an important income capacity to deliver critical projects and respond to and meet industry challenges.
“When a tradie joins the QBuild team, they’re not just constructing buildings, they’re literally building the State,” he added.
The Palaszczuk Government said it is investing $95 million in QBuild’s redevelopment, which includes recruiting, depot enhancements, and investments in Rapid Accommodation and Apprenticeship Centres.
