Senator CASH (Western Australia—Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women) (14:53): I thank the senator for the question. I disagree with you. We are certainly not celebrating the demise of the car manufacturing industry in Australia. What we are acknowledging though is that successive governments have provided billions upon billions of dollars to the car industry and, as Senator Carr himself acknowledged when he was the relevant minister, it wasn't the result of any particular government, it was unfortunately— Senator Kim Carr: Yes it was. It was your government. You made a deliberate decision. Senator CASH: a fact of the economic conditions at the time. This is a government that has worked very, very carefully with all of the car manufacturers in Australia. Senator Kim Carr interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Minister. Senator Carr, I can't hear the minister. Senator Hinch on a point of order. Senator Hinch: Mr President, at the back of the chamber it is very hard to hear. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Hinch, my sentiment exactly. Please, a bit more order so I can hear the minister respond to the questions when asked. Senator CASH: As I stated, the government has for a number of years now been ensuring that we put in place programs to assist those workers working with the relevant states and with the relevant employers to ensure that workers are able to transition into new jobs or new industries. In fact, assistance since 2013 to help businesses transition into new industries is $255 million. Total assistance to assist those workers who have been affected since 2013 is $45 million. The number of workers that have been assisted to date is over 6,000. These workers have been provided with career training, advice and support. In addition to that, Holden advises that 75 per cent of Holden workers have found new jobs or retired. A further 10 per cent of those workers have put their hands up and they have actually said, 'I would like to look at something new,' and they are taking on new study. In terms of manufacturing itself, over 2,000 engineers, designers and technicians have been retained— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Gallacher, a supplementary question.