Phil Dwyer hasn't been approached by any tradies desperate for a job in 12 months.Credit:Regis Martin
During past downturns,Mr Dwyer said he got calls from many people looking for a job.
"In the last 12 months,we've not had one inquiry for work. In years gone by,in a recession or a slowdown,we're inundated with people,"he said.
"You only have to drive around the suburbs and you will see tradies'utes everywhere."
And he said the funding would encourage big builders to"jack up the prices they are charging for their homes".
The Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Victorian division welcomed the funding but also flagged some concerns with it – and urged the Andrews government to develop its own stimulus package targeted at the townhouse and apartment market.
Chief executive Danni Hunter said more focus was also needed on funding social housing.
She said while the package was good news for the suburban house-and-land package sector,the timeframe and builder contract requirements of the HomeBuilder scheme"basically excluded off-the-plan apartment sales and many townhouse developments".
Danni Hunter,chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Australia,says the package won't do much to support apartment and townhouse builders.Credit:Paul Jeffers
A group of more than 300 Australian organisations that want increased investment in social housing commended Canberra on not including investment properties in the fund.
But Everybody’s Home campaign spokeswoman Kate Colvin said money for social housing would have helped many more.
She said Australia could mark"a turning point for the economy and for the kind of country we want to be".
"Instead,we’re already going back to business as usual and taking the easy option of handing $25,000 to renovators who can already afford a home."
Master Builders Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson said the stimulus would help the construction sector lead Victoria towards economic recovery,with each dollar of stimulus spending generating three dollars of activity.
"Independent financial modelling predicts that more than 20,000 building and construction jobs in Victoria will be saved through this package,"she said.