ACanadian expat who earns up to $120,000 a year as a heavy machine operator in Australia has said there is ‘no shortage of work’ in his industry.

The tradie said there were no qualifications to operate heavy machinery in Canada during an interview with job-matching app Getahead.

‘Here [in Australia] you need a bunch of tickets to be able to operate everything. When I got to Australia it took me about a month to get all my certifications and then I was good to go,’ he said.

The tradie ran his own construction business in Canada but sold it so that he could move to Australia and enjoy a warmer climate.

He plans to obtain his permanent residency and start his own business in Australia.

The tradie said construction is a great industry for Aussies ‘if you like to work with your hands’ and be challenged on the job.

He added there was no shortage of work and that tradies ‘will always be employed’.

More than 1.3million Aussies are employed in the construction industry and earn a median weekly wage of $1,598, according to figures by Jobs and Skills Australia.

A Canadian expat (pictured) who earns up to $120,000 a year operating heavy machinery has said there is ‘no shortage of work’ in his industry

The tradie said construction is a great industry for Aussies ‘if you like to work with your hands’ and be challenged on the job (stock image)

Australia needs around 130,000 workers over five years to join the industry to meet current infrastructure demand according to Master Builders Australia.

The nation’s peak building and construction association said productivity has declined 18 per cent across the industry over the last decade.

Master Builder’s CEO Denita Wawn said the issue is putting more pressure on workers and employers and urged the government to increase skilled migration and provide better support for apprentices.

‘It will require a holistic approach across federal government portfolios from migration, skills and training through to industrial relations,’ she said.

Australia needs 90,000 workers to meet the government’s ambitious housing target.

In 2023, Labor announced intentions to build 1.2million homes over a five-year period as part of the National Housing Accord.

Around 60,000 new homes will need to be built every quarter to achieve the goal.

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Loyalists of the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji have reportedly relocated to a new hideout in the Garsa/Kadanya area of Bayanruwa, within Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to intelligence sources, available to Zagazola Makama, the movements were observed between January 19 and 20, with Turji’s followers—many on motorcycles and carrying wounded members—passing through Galadi, Damaga, Rudunu, and Danbenchi en route to the new hideout.

The new location is reportedly under the control of Jummo Smally, a former rival of Turji, and has previously served as a safe haven for bandits. Some of the fleeing bandits are also believed to be moving through Rudunu, Bankamawa, and Farfaru in the Faru District, as confirmed by security operatives.

Local sources revealed that injured bandits are being treated at the Garsa/Kadanya hideout, prompting authorities to warn health workers in the area against providing medical assistance to them.

The relocation follows intensified military operations in the region, which have forced Turji and his loyalists to abandon their previous camps.

The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a syndicate whose specialty is in child stealing and trafficking. A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure.

A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka, m age , 42 years), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings to eat, while playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.

Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she followed her to Olukayode plaza in the market to get a mobile phone, on getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left, on getting back to the shop, the complainant discovered that her child was missing with no trace of Abosede the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market, thus a report was made at the Division.

Through intelligence-led policing, the suspects were traced to Ottah Village in Edo State, where they were arrested.

During interrogation, the suspects admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to one. Sabira Izuorah ‘f’ age 62 years) in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000) per child.

Subsequently, Sabina was arrested in Ihiala and the following babies were found in her custody:
1.Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old)
2.Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old)
3.Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months and 5 days old)
4.Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old).

Also, on the 14th of January 2025, ten children sold by Mrs. Izuorah were rescued from various locations, and the following were identified by their parents:
1.Dauda Alarape (male, 3½ years)
2.Babalola David (male, 4 years)
3.Asaolu Pamilerin (7 years)
4.Ayomide Abass (male, 2 years, stolen from Orita-Obele, Akure)
5.Komolafe Oluwasekemi (female, 4 years, stolen from Igado, Ilesha)
6.Adedeji Olalekan (male, 6½ years)
7.Ahmed Abdulrasaq (male, 5½ years, stolen from Ibodi Town, Osun State)
8.Mary Wuraola (female, 2 years, stolen from Ilesha, Osun State)
9.Mubarak Akinwunmi (male, 6 years, stolen from Osogbo, Osun State)
10.Unknown child (name/parents yet to be identified, stolen from Osun State).

Some children are currently on the missing list while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them.

The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation