ANNE STANLEY
OPPOSITION WHIP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR WERRIWA

SOUTH-WESTERN SYDNEY TRADES JOBS AT RISK

Trades jobs in South-Western Sydney are at risk with a massive drop in homebuilding activity projected to hit the housing industry due to the impact of COVID-19.

Anne Stanley MP, Federal Member for Werriwa, says housing construction has been spared from lockdown measures but current projects are winding up, and new work is drying up.

“Right now, there is a risk that as Australia goes back to work, tradespeople will run out of work,” she said.

“Areas such as Edmondson Park, Bardia and Middleton Grange are all high-growth areas and heavily reliant on tradies keeping up with demand.

“If they lose their jobs, growth with stall and will risk our local economy,” she said.

According to a survey by the Master Builders Association, 73 per cent of residential construction businesses reported a substantial fall in forward work, with 40 per cent being lost on average.

The projected number of annual new builds has already dropped significantly from over 160,000 in January to 100,000.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that for every $1 invested in new housing construction, $3 of activity is created for the broader economy. In times of economic shock, housing construction has played a vital role in national economic recovery.

This is about people and their ability to pay their bills and look after their families.

“The Government and National Cabinet urgently needs to develop a plan with the housing industry to make sure tradies in Werriwa don’t lose their job,” Ms Stanley said.

“The economy won’t snap back if this industry snaps”.