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The Australian dream of home ownership has never felt more out of reach.

In their first two years in office, the Labor Federal Government’s solution has been to bring in more than one million migrants [[link removed]] while only 350,000 new homes have been constructed over the same period of time.

A major obstacle to housing projects is the lack of funding for essential infrastructure like water, power, and roads. On top of that, Australia faces a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, as confirmed by Jobs and Skills Australia’s updated Occupation Shortage List [[link removed]]. Labor's initiatives, including Fee-Free TAFE, have failed to address these challenges.

In contrast, the Coalition has committed $5 billion to fast-track the construction of up to 500,000 homes [[link removed]] through grants and concessional loans.

Trade shortages are deepening as the Federal Government pushes more students into university pathways. The National Australian Apprenticeship Association is calling for university dropouts to consider switching to trades [[link removed]], criticising Labor’s $350 million remedial program for struggling university students. As Grade 12 students complete their final exams, it's vital to celebrate all pathways to success, including apprenticeships.

Despite what you may see in Question Time, federal parliamentarians can and do work together. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP, visited the McPherson Electorate and joined me for talkback radio on 4CRB [[link removed]] before we hosted a mock day in Parliament for students at Marymount College [[link removed]]. We discussed the making and changing of laws, the role of Government and the Australian Constitution before voting on a very important Bill – whether or not to ban pineapple on pizza!

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Gold Coast Women in Business Awards [[link removed]] as the national Ambassador. It’s no secret that the past year has been a challenging one for many businesses across our region. With the rising cost of living continuing to stretch household budgets, we know that many small and local businesses have felt the pinch. From soaring energy prices to supply chain disruptions, it’s been tough. The women we honoured at the Business Awards have not only navigated these challenges but have thrived in the face of them.

Just this week, we welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla [[link removed]] to Australia. This was the King’s first visit to Australia as sovereign, and the first visit to Australia by a reigning monarch since 2011.

As always, please feel free to get in touch if there's anything you'd like to discuss.

Kind regards,

The Hon Karen Andrews MP

Federal Member for McPherson

Visit Karen's website [[link removed]] | Add Karen on Facebook [[link removed]] | Follow Karen on Twitter [[link removed]]

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Postal Address: PO Box 409, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227

Email: karen.andrews.mp@ [mailto:[email protected]] aph.gov.au [mailto:[email protected]?subject=Response%20from%20E-News]

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Phone: (07) 5580 9111

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Authorised by Karen Andrews MP, 47 Watts Drive, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227