Albanese to announce $10,000 cash for apprentices who build homes in National Press Club election pitch
ABC News
Dec 24 2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will return to the National Press Club almost a year to the day since he revealed changes to stage three tax cuts. (ABC News:
In short:
Apprentices who work in residential construction would get a $10,000 cash bonus under an election policy to be launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club on Friday.
The government has set aside enough for just over 60,000 apprentices, although a similar scheme for green jobs attracted only 2,200 applicants.
What's next?
The press club address will mark one year since Mr Albanese used a similar appearance to unveil changes to the stage three tax cuts.
Apprentices who work in residential construction would get a $10,000 cash bonus under an election policy to be launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club on Friday.
The PM will frame the incentive as a double win, aiding "the next generation of tradies" while also providing a much-needed workforce boost to a construction sector that is struggling to meet the lofty goal of 1.2 million new homes in five years.
"Right now, a first-year carpentry apprentice earns about two-thirds of the minimum wage … As a number have said, they could earn a lot more stacking shelves in their local supermarket," he will say, according to an excerpt of his speech released to media.
$10,000 new energy apprentice payment broadened
Apprentices will be able to claim up to $10,000 to learn skills such as solar panel installation or electric vehicle repair as part of their trade, as the federal government widens its "new energy" apprentice payment.
"Too many leave training, because they can't afford to stay. Our government wants to encourage more Australians to get on the tools — and stay in construction."
The scheme would pay apprentices in five $2,000 instalments over the duration of their apprenticeship, additional to any pay from their employers.
The cost to the budget would be $626.9 million, with funding already set aside in the mid-year budget update. That would be enough to fund just over 60,000 apprentices.
A similar Albanese government initiative for "green jobs" struggled to attract that many, with only 2,200 apprentices signing on for their $10,000 payment.
That forced the government to broaden the scheme to cover all trades workers in the energy sector, provided they perform at least some green tasks.
Mr Albanese will also announce plans to boost the allowance paid to apprentices who live away from home, currently set at $77.17 per week for the first year of training and lower for subsequent years.
Housing pitch to feature in looming election
The prime minister's press club address comes almost exactly one year after he used a similar appearance to announce his plan to reallocate the stage three tax cuts to include middle and lower earners.
Though this broke a promise made before the election and repeatedly after it, it was well received by voters and the opposition waved it through the parliament after some grumbling, handing Mr Albanese a win to begin the political year.
Stage 3 tax cuts redrawn
The government will halve the stage 3 tax cuts for the highest earners and use the money to deliver an $804 tax cut across the board.
While the apprentice payment is unlikely to be so consequential, it shows the government is keen to highlight its ambition to build more houses as a solution to the housing crisis, something it has sought to progress by paying states to reform planning laws and providing grants for social housing.
Labor's housing platform will contrast with the Coalition's approach, which does include supply policies but will also allow first homebuyers to use at least $50,000 from their superannuation for a home deposit, an idea housing economists say will add further fuel to prices.
But achieving the 1.2 million homes target, set in 2023 by a national cabinet dominated by Labor leaders, will be a tall order, not least because of construction workforce shortages.
Achieving it would require an extra 90,000 workers, according to an advisory group of construction industry leaders set up by the federal government.
Industry groups say more needs to be done to facilitate the migration of construction workers, especially given Australia's workforce participation is already at record highs and the level of unemployment remains low.
Debate over TAFE sector
The skills sector will also feature in the campaign, with Labor already promising to make its "fee-free TAFE" subsidies permanent.
More workers needed to achieve home goal, industry says
The construction industry warns the federal government's goal of building 1.2 million new homes in five years faces a significant worker shortage.
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