Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth could not explain why trade workers remain in a lower priority tier despite the housing crisis.

Under Australia’s current skilled migration scheme, occupations are split into four priority tiers, with tradies placed in the third tier alongside economists, actors, dancers and animal trainers.

Host Natalie Barr put her on the spot, asking why they sit in that tier.

Ms Rishworth did not directly answer the question. 

“Well, obviously we get our advice around the professional list from experts, but I would say that I do agree that we do need to see more skilled tradies in our country,” she said.

She instead pointed to Labor’s record, saying the number of construction workers had tripled and skills recognition had been fast-tracked for an additional 20,000 workers.

Shadow defence minister James Paterson, who appeared alongside Ms Rishworth, said the government had indicated tradesmen are “equally as important” to them as actors.

“Only a Labor government would think, in the middle of our worst housing crisis, that economists, animal trainers and actors are equally as important to bring to Australia as tradies,” he said.

Ms Rishworth rejected the claim, saying that was “absolutely not the case”.

Unconvinced, Barr pressed the minister on why the priority list had not changed despite Australia’s housing crisis, and if the other occupations should drop down a tier.

“So why don’t you drop the others down a tier? Would that work?” she said.

“Why hasn’t it changed in four years?”

Ms Rishworth again pointed to expert recommendations and Labor’s increase in construction workers, without directly addressing whether the rankings should change.

The calls to prioritise trade workers come as Australia faces mounting pressure to boost its construction workforce amid fresh warnings of a shortage of construction workers.

Master Builders Australia has warned growing demand for labour from the country’s booming AI data centre sector could further hamper efforts to build enough homes; with analysis that suggests Australia is already 91,000 homes short of its National Housing Accord target.