CEO Update: National MBA Update

This week MBA Australia held a round of important committee meetings to discuss the state of the industry, the current economic settings and critical skills shortages. As part of these meetings we meet with Productivity Commission Commissioner, Malcolm Roberts, to discuss the Productivity Inquiry and Housing and Homelessness Agreement Review. These are both important issues which significantly impact our industry. At a time of high demand, high inflation, and skills shortages, the importance of improving productivity will increase.

The MBA is increasing its efforts to attract new apprentices into the ACT building and construction industry. We have two mid-year carpentry apprentice intakes scheduled for the remainder of 2022. To support apprentice recruitment we are holding a Carpentry Careers Evening on 21 July 2022. We are buoyed by the level of interest from students in carpentry apprentices with our current intake over-subscribed. We also encourage employers looking to employ a carpentry apprentice to register to attend this event.

MBAs across Australia are currently working with our respective State and Territory Governments and the Federal Government on the many issues currently facing our industry. We are working closely with the ACT Government on a number of reforms, including the Planning Bill and building quality reforms which have the potential to support our industry into the future.

We are also calling on the ACT Government to use its August budget to support the building and construction industry, especially through a sustained pipeline of infrastructure building, increasing funding for training and apprentices, and continuing targeted programs aimed at workforce attraction. The ACT budget will be released on 2 August. Members will hear about the budget announcements in the sector council meetings that follow the budget.