Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a A$50 million plan for the State Electricity Commission (SEC, a government-owned energy body revived in 2023 after decades of privatisation) to offer 2,000 electrical apprenticeships over four years, with the first intake beginning in January 2027. The scheme, unveiled at Labor's state conference in Melbourne, will operate across two training facilities and place apprentices on both public and private projects including wind farms and data centres. The announcement comes as Australia faces a projected shortfall of up to 42,000 electricians by 2030, driven by declining apprenticeship enrolments and rising demand from the clean energy sector.