The LNP will build a TAFE Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing in Moreton Bay to train the manufacturing, construction and trades workers needed in this rapidly growing area.
The commitment is part of the LNP’s $199.1 million plan for three new TAFE Centre of Excellence sites across Queensland, to help secure a pipeline of skilled workers for Queensland’s Future.
LNP Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie said the LNP’s $60 million TAFE Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing at Petrie was part of the LNP’s Right Plan for Queensland’s Future.
“Manufacturing, construction, and technology are major industries and employers in Moreton Bay and the LNP’s TAFE Centre of Excellence will provide the skills needed for our growing workforce,” Mr Bleijie said.
“This TAFE campus will also have training precinct for TAFE teachers, to help tackle the shortage of qualified TAFE teachers.
“The LNP will secure a pipeline of tradies for the future and train the skilled workers this region needs right here in Queensland.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Employment and Training Brent Mickelberg said the LNP’s TAFE Centre of Excellence for Moreton Bay would offer students the opportunity to learn a trade, to then work in their own community.
“The LNP’s commitment to a new TAFE in the City of Moreton Bay will create valuable educational opportunities for young people, allowing them to study a trade close to home,” Mr Mickelberg said.
“This will work hand in hand with the LNP’s new pilot program to support small businesses to take on apprentices, covering a proportion of wages during block teaching periods at TAFE.
“The LNP’s plan will cover 50% of apprentice wages for first and second year apprentices, and 25% of the wages for third and fourth year apprentices, during training block periods of four weeks, twice a year.
“The pilot program will initially focus on construction trade apprentices and be open to the first 2000 apprentices employed by small and family businesses.
“Queensland is in the middle of a skilled worker shortage crisis, and we must do better when it comes to training and supporting our students, apprentices and trainees.
“Under Labor we have a missing generation of tradies with 17,600 fewer tradies than Labor’s own targets.”
Candidate for Kurwongabah Tanya McKewen said the LNP was investing in the City of Moreton with more training and more opportunities.
“We desperately need skilled workers and tradespeople to help address the skills shortage Labor has overseen for families who are moving to the greatest community in the state,” Ms McKewen said.
“My community knows there are not enough workers, and a skills shortage is forcing costs up – the LNP has listened and will deliver the solution our region needs.”
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery welcomed the LNP’s commitment to a TAFE Centre of Excellence for Moreton Bay.
“Manufacturing is a key industry in our city, so we are keen to support a TAFE that will train and upskill our workforce to meet the needs of local businesses and provide jobs for the future,” Mayor Flannery said.
“To support this commitment, Council is pleased to offer the land required for the facility to be built at The Mill site.
“The Mill at Moreton Bay, near UniSC’s Moreton Bay campus, is the ideal location for this combined facility due to its proximity to industry, excellent public transport connectivity, and opportunities for collaboration between vocational and higher education.”
University of the Sunshine Coast Vice Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett said the University strongly welcomed the commitment for an advanced manufacturing focused TAFE near the existing Moreton Bay campus.
“We already have a strong relationship with TAFE Queensland and are very confident that a TAFE campus here on the Mill site will help to deliver the right integration of vocational training alongside higher education to better support students and meet the region’s future workforce needs,” Professor Bartlett said.