Senator CASH (Western Australia—Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women) (14:24): I thank Senator Wong for her question. I disagree, however, in relation to the premise of Senator Wong's question and what she was implying. It will be a very sad day tomorrow—I don't think anybody in this place would deny that—in that we will see the closure of Holden. Seventy years ago the first Holden rolled off the manufacturing line, and I think that, if we went around this chamber now and said, 'Do you remember the car your mum or your dad or your family had when you were growing up?' many of us would say, 'It was a Holden.' My family—we had a Commodore. But, in relation to the closure of Holden, Senator Wong would be aware that, unlike the former Labor government—under which, as I pointed out yesterday, Senator Carr almost made the car industry car-less, though he doesn't like to admit that—this government has been working with the manufacturers; this government has been working with the employees and the employers— The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator Wong? Senator Wong: On direct relevance, Mr President; I asked this question: exactly how many Australian workers will be forced to find a new job or retire as a result of the closure of auto manufacturing in Australia? The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Wong. That is correct. I will remind the minister of the question. Senator CASH: Senator Wong, you are right: there will be some workers who will need to find a job tomorrow, but, in relation to those workers, Holden has already stated that 75 per cent of its workforce—because it has been working with its workforce since it made its decision to leave our shores—have either gone into alternative employment or have retired; a further 10 per cent— The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator Wong? Senator Wong: It is on direct relevance. This minister should be able to answer this question: how many workers will lose their job? The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Wong. The minister has moved to answer your question along the lines of the quantum. The minister is giving us some quantum by way of percentage in relation to some of the workers, and I think it's fair to listen to the minister, as she may get to the figure that you've asked for. Senator CASH: In relation to workers, Senator Carr would be well aware that, under the former Labor government, employment was down by 30 per cent in the car-manufacturing industry. The government acknowledge that there will be workers tomorrow that do not have jobs, and that is why we have consistently invested hundreds of millions of dollars in ensuring that workers are able to properly transition into alternative employment, should they want that, and that is why Holden has been able to say that 75 per cent— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a supplementary question?