Stop the Apprentice Incentive Cuts — Protect Small Business & Save Australia’s Future Workforce

Australia is facing a growing skills crisis — yet the Albanese Government has announced it will halve apprentice support payments for most industries from 1 January 2026, slashing incentives from $5,000 to $2,500 for both employers and apprentices outside the housing and clean-energy sectors.

These cuts will impact critical industries including:

Hospitality

Automotive

Hairdressing

Retail

Tourism

Childcare

And many other essential trades

 

At a time when apprenticeship numbers are already declining, staff shortages are widespread, and thousands of small businesses are fighting to stay afloat, this policy change will make the crisis even worse.

While support for housing and clean-energy trades is welcome, every industry contributes to Australia’s skills future. Cutting payments to the rest of the workforce will:

Make it harder for young people to access apprenticeships

Force small businesses to stop training new staff

Increase skill shortages across the entire economy

Threaten the long-term viability of essential trades

🔻 Fewer apprentices

🔻 More staff shortages

🔻 Higher training costs

🔻 Small businesses under pressure

🔻 Young people missing out on opportunities

Australia needs a strong, skilled, diverse workforce — and that means supporting ALL apprentices, not just those in selected sectors.

We call on the Australian Government to:

1. Reverse the decision to halve apprentice support payments

2. Restore full funding for apprenticeships across all industries

3. Work with industry to create long-term solutions to address skills shortages

4. Ensure small businesses are supported to train the next generation

Please sign and share this petition to protect small business, safeguard apprenticeships, and secure Australia’s workforce for the future.

Every signature matters. Every share matters.

Together, we can stop stop these decisions being made without consultation 

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