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Morning, mate!
Another Tuesday, another chance to feel better about your worst job site disasters. We've got some ripper tool deals that'll make your wallet sing (in a good way), housing news that’s pretty good any way you cut it, and industry news that might save you a pretty penny.
Coffee ready? Let's go! Here’s what’s coming up in today’s Smoko:
🎯Quick Hits: Codes, Costs, & Keeping Safe
🗞️The Feature: 5% scheme fast-tracked. But what does it mean for Tradies?
💰Tool & Gear Deals: Makita Vs. DeWalt: Porque No Los Dos? 🌮
Cheers,
Liam
QUICK HITS
Weekly Wrap Up
🚨Construction Code put on ice until 2029. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has paused all updates to the National Construction Code (except safety standards) to give builders "room to breathe." We flagged this story last week, and now it's official. The freeze aims to fast-track the government's target of 1.2 million new homes by decade's end.
🕊️Construction worker Paulo Mau'u farewelled after site tragedy. The 40-year-old father from New Zealand was laid to rest following a concrete pumping accident at a Meriton site in Sydney's northwest. His colleague Aymen Alahmad remains in hospital with critical injuries. Mau'u's family are demanding answers and accountability from the company. Another reminder that getting home safe should never be taken for granted.
🚛$5,298 fine for muddy truck wheels. Winslow Constructions copped it from EPA Victoria after their trucks tracked mud from a Point Cook site onto public roads. The regulator says it's not just about messy roads - sediment washes into drains and harms waterways. Another reminder that wheel washing isn't optional, especially when rain's forecast.
THE FEATURE
5% Deposit Scheme Fast-Tracked.
What does it mean for tradies?
The government's bringing forward the expanded 5% deposit scheme to October 1st, and it's a game-changer for tradies on both sides of the equation.
For first home buyers: No more income caps or place limits. This mean if you've saved 5% and it's your first home, you're in. For a median-priced home at $844,000, you'd only need $42,200 saved instead of the usual $168,800. Plus, no lenders mortgage insurance to worry about. Whether you're an apprentice on lower wages or a qualified tradie, this levels the playing field against cashed-up buyers.
For the building trades: The government's also investing $10 billion to build 100,000 homes reserved exclusively for eligible buyers. That's serious work coming down the pipeline, especially with higher property price caps now matching average house prices in each region.
The catch? It's first-home buyers only, so if you already own, this won't help with upgrades or investment properties.
Are you seeing more first-home buyers inquiring about builds, or still finding most are priced out?
TOOL & GEAR DEALS
Makita Vs. DeWalt: Porque No Los Dos?
This 165mm cordless cuts through framing timber like butter, and the brushless motor means less mucking around with maintenance. Perfect for when you can't be bothered dragging leads around site. At $309 down from $388, it's hard to say no to more Makita gear.
This compact beast pumps out 90Nm of torque - that's 32% more grunt than the old DCD796. Two-speed transmission and 15 torque settings mean you can finesse screws or drill through concrete without breaking a sweat. At 1.2kg, it won't kill your wrist on long days either.
At $259 down from $349 at the Big Green Warehouse, this thing cranks out 20,000 oscillations per minute with three speed settings. The brushless motor gives you 57% more runtime than corded versions, perfect for those long renovation jobs where power points are nowhere to be found. Cuts, sands, scrapes; one tool does it all.
SIGN OFF
That's a wrap on another Smoko! Hope your Tuesday goes smoother than a freshly screeded slab. Got thoughts on any of these stories? Reckon we missed something big? Just hit reply and let us know, we do actually read them all!
Catch you next week, legends. Stay safe out there.
Cheers,
Liam