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| Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training
The Honourable Ros Bates Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development The Honourable Dale Last |
01 October 2026
JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Work starts on Petrie TAFE Centre of Excellence
- Early site works have started on the new state-of-the-art $60 million Moreton Bay TAFE Centre of Excellence.
- Queensland family-owned business FKG Group has been appointed contractor to deliver this world-class facility.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy by turning the tide on Labor’s dire workforce shortages.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering critical training infrastructure needed to rebuild Queensland’s skilled workforce with work now underway on the new TAFE Centre of Excellence at Petrie.
It’s yet another election commitment being met by the Crisafulli Government and one of four TAFE Centres of Excellence being delivered around the State, featuring industry-leading training facilities for advanced manufacturing, traditional metal fabrication, engineering, trades training, instrumentation labs and industry collaboration spaces.
The Petrie TAFE Centre of Excellence is the second to begin construction, after work got underway on the Rockhampton site earlier in the year, and will include an Advanced Manufacturing Hub to support the billion-dollar manufacturing industry in the City of Moreton Bay region.
It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy and turning the tide on Labor’s skills shortages.
Labor failed to build a single new TAFE campus during its decade of decline and created dire workforce shortages across industries and around the State, with the construction industry alone left facing a predicted peak shortfall of 50,000 workers.
That peak shortfall has reduced considerably under the Crisafulli Government, and the Petrie Centre of Excellence forms part of the biggest expansion of TAFE’s physical footprint in decades.
The facility will be built at the Moreton Bay Central site in Petrie within walking distance of the train station and close to the future Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, a key venue for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the start of work at Petrie was an important milestone as the Crisafulli Government continued to deliver on its election commitments.
“Labor left Queensland’s construction industry facing a worker shortfall the size of a Suncorp stadium crowd, and we are doing everything we can to continue cleaning up their failures,” Minister Bates said.
“This new TAFE Centre of Excellence is going to provide world class training in a state-of-the-art facility and help generations of Queenslanders get on the tools and get into good paying jobs.
“Communities and regions all around Queensland are crying out for tradies and skilled workers because of how badly Labor let our worker pipeline deteriorate, so it’s critical we provide infrastructure and training to fill those worker shortages.
“This TAFE Centre of Excellence is strategically located and means locals will get the best training available at a world-class facility right on their doorstep here in Petrie.
“The $60 million project will help ensure Queensland’s growing economy is supported by world-class tradies to deliver more housing and other infrastructure needed, especially as we prepare for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Minister for Manufacturing Dale Last said the delivery of the campus’ advanced manufacturing hub was another sign of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to deliver more jobs and support Queensland’s manufacturing industry.
“Under the Crisafulli Government, manufacturing is going from strength to strength,” Minister Last said.
“We know how important it is to have a skilled workforce to support future growth, and this TAFE Centre of Excellence is going to be a huge driver of that.”
Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley said the new TAFE Centre of Excellence would provide a huge boost for the community.
“Manufacturing and construction are important industries for our area, just as they are for the whole of Queensland, and to have this facility being built in our backyard will means thousands of people can learn where they live in a world class environment,” Ms Dooley said.
Member for Pumicestone Ariana Doolan said the new TAFE Centre of Excellence would help locals get into rewarding careers.
“Thousands of locals are going to be learning skills and getting qualifications in fields which will take them anywhere they want to be in life, and I’m so proud this facility is being delivered for our community,” Ms Doolan said.
TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Tim Rawlings said the new Centre of Excellence would help deliver the practical, industry-relevant skills needed to support Moreton Bay’s continued growth.
“This Centre of Excellence will give students and apprentices access to contemporary, hands-on training that reflects the real skills needed across advanced manufacturing, construction, engineering and electrotechnology,” Mr Rawlings said.
“By working closely with industry, employers and government, we can ensure training keeps pace with changing workforce needs and graduates are job-ready, confident and equipped to contribute from day one.
“As Queensland’s public training provider, we are proud to be helping more people in Moreton Bay gain practical skills, build meaningful careers and support the industries and communities that will drive Queensland’s future.”
The City of Moreton Bay – the third-largest local government in Australia by population – is working closely with the Crisafulli Government on the project.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said Council’s transfer of land at Moreton Bay Central for the TAFE Centre of Excellence would result in more high-demand sector jobs across City of Moreton Bay.
“City of Moreton Bay’s billion dollar manufacturing industry has been given a boost, with specialised training opportunities for local students,” Cr Flannery said.
“The State Government’s welcome investment will upskill our workforce and provide jobs for the future, further reinforcing Moreton Bay Central’s reputation as an education and technology hub.
“We are building a city where ambition is matched with opportunity and the world-class facilities planned within the TAFE Centre of Excellence will play a key role in making that vision a reality.”
The Crisafulli Government’s $201.1 million investment involves TAFE Centres of Excellence in Petrie, the Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Southern Moreton Bay Islands (Marine Centre of Excellence).
To view artists impressions of Petrie TAFE Centre of Excellence, click here.