Queensland calls for more trades to move to “paradise”

A multi-million dollar promotional blitz is under way in three states in an effort to lure more trades to Queensland to help with flood recovery efforts.

The Tradies in Paradise campaign is being promoted across a range of targeted advertising platforms as well as to spectators at AFL games in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. New South Wales was excluded from the campaign because it also experienced widespread flooding.

Eligible occupations include refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, building designers and building certifiers, among many others.

“We want to encourage more cabinetmakers, carpenters, electricians, gasfitters, plasterers, plumbers, tilers and other construction trades along with architects, certifiers, designers, building engineers, planners and surveyors to move to Queensland and continue the rebuilding effort,” says Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczukthe.

“Collectively, impacted Queenslanders are facing years of repairs and reconstruction so the more skilled boots we get on the ground, to keep projects moving forward, the faster we can get families back into their homes and businesses reopened.”

The scheme was launched in April 2022 with offers of up to $1,750 to be paid to the first 1,000 tradespeople who move to Queensland and work for eight weeks’ rebuilding communities impacted by the recent South East Queensland flood.

“While we’re encouraging tradies to come for at least eight week’s recovery work, we’re hoping our long pipeline of major infrastructure projects in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 might just make them decide to trade up to paradise and stay forever,” says Palaszczukthe.

The government notes that some workers will already have completed, or be closing in on, the eight consecutive weeks of work requirement. They can then apply for the $1,500 Tradies in Paradise incentive payment and up to an additional $250 to reimburse travel costs.

The application form is now live on Tradies in Paradise website.

For more information go to www.qld.gov.au/tradiesinparadise