The clear need to boost WA’s building and construction workforce in the short term to build more homes continues to be undercut by CFMEU influence over State and Federal Labor, says Shadow Housing Minister Steve Martin MLC.

“The new Core Skills Occupation List released on Tuesday tells the same old Labor story of carve-outs for their union mates, against the national interest.” said Mr Martin.

“Dog trainers, yoga gurus, flower growers, beauty therapists and jewellery designers will be brought into Australia – but not 15 key roles the Master Builders have said are critical for housing.

“Master Builders have identified machinery operator roles such as drillers, bulldozers, excavators, and housing and lift operators. There’s no good reason why these would be excluded except for union influence behind closed doors.

Mr Martin highlighted that while the previous iteration of the draft skills list was even worse, it was astonishing that Labor has to be dragged to the table to do the right thing over the course of months. “The previous draft list excluded plumbers, carpenters, and bricklayers – the Albanese Government had to be publicly embarrassed into amending that list.

“Despite that, despite the housing crisis which in Western Australia is particularly hampered by workforce shortages, they’ve failed to do the right thing again.

“Premier Cook needs to take responsibility for this too. He’s set up an embassy in Canberra, he’s saying the Prime Minister ‘gets’ WA, but there’s no proof of that here.

“WA Labor created this problem in 2017, when they cut down the Skilled Migration Occupation List at a state level from 178 occupations to just 18. Premier McGowan boasted “No longer can overseas workers be fast-tracked into bricklaying, tiling or electrician jobs.”

“They’ve now announced a scheme to attract workers to WA for $10,000 each. Together with sweetheart deals on METRONET projects driving up costs, Western Australian families are literally paying the price for Labor’s inability to say no to the CFMEU.”