Thank you, Laura, and can I join in paying my respects to the memory of Ken Randall and offer my condolences to his family and friends.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
I acknowledge all my colleagues joining me here today.
Everywhere we’ve been this summer, the work of building Australia’s future is underway.
A $7.2 billion investment to boost productivity and make the Bruce Highway safer.
Upgrading key roads in Western Sydney and vital ports in Western Australia, connecting communities with economic opportunity.
Building new homes for Australians in our cities and regions – from Cairns and Karratha to Heidelberg and Hobart.
Finishing the NBN with fibre, not copper, delivering high speed access and keeping it in public hands.
Now it’s no secret I’ve always loved infrastructure.
Infrastructure matters to me because I’ve seen the difference it can make to people: to communities, to our regions, to our economy, to our national quality of life.
However, I know that building Australia’s future is about more than homes and roads and ports and broadband.
More than bricks and mortar.
Building Australia’s future is about all of us.
Every one of us, in every part of our country.
Tradies and farmers, small business owners, teachers and nurses.
Building Australia’s future is about your future.
Because it’s your effort and sacrifice and aspiration that powers our economy and nourishes our society.
And that effort should bring you fair reward.
The hard work you do enhances and shapes our country – and it should add up to a better life, for you and your family.
That’s why building Australia’s future means building better Medicare.
Like the 87 new Urgent Care Clinics we’ve opened right around the nation.
Clinics that have already helped more than a million Australians see a doctor for free.
And in order to keep growing our economy and creating prosperity, building Australia’s future is about what we sell to our region and the world.
Manufacturing workers turning resources the world needs into products the world wants, through our plan for a Future Made in Australia.
Aluminium workers in Tomago, Gladstone, Portland and Bell Bay gaining new security because we’re connecting them to cleaner and cheaper energy.
Farmers and fishers and producers exporting world class beef and barley and wine and seafood to China again, because we have stabilised our relationship.
And building Australia’s future is about training Australians for that future.
Free TAFE has given 600,000 Australians the chance to learn new skills for new jobs.
Free TAFE has changed lives – and we want to expand on this success.
Because we recognise the next generation of tradies, the people we’re counting on to build the new homes we need, are under significant financial pressure.
Right now, a first-year carpentry apprentice earns about two-thirds of the minimum wage.
Some apprentices earn even less.
That’s before you buy things like tools, safety gear, clothing and boots.
Many apprentices have said they could earn more stacking shelves at the supermarket.
And too many leave training, because they can’t afford to stay.
Our Government wants to encourage more Australians to learn a trade and stay in construction.
That’s why we are going to provide more support for tradies while they’re training.
Today, I announce we will be raising the allowance paid to apprentices who are living away from home.
The first time this payment has been increased in over two decades.
And, in occupations essential for residential construction, jobs like bricklayers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters, we will be providing eligible apprentices up to $10,000 through our new Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program.
Five payments of $2000 each, on top of their wages.
This means that apprentices in residential construction will now get the same training incentives as those in the energy sector.
More new homes, more new energy – and more support for the tradies who will build both.
