Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:51): You are right, Senator Sheldon. How many messes have we had to clean up since coming to office? Opposition senators interjecting— Senator WATT: I know those opposite are embarrassed. I would be embarrassed too if I had been in government for 10 years and left so many messes behind. It's like that advertisement with Pro Hart: 'Oh, Mr Hart, what a mess. What a mess.' There is a mess everywhere you look. Every rug you lift up, there's another mess left behind by the former coalition government. Skills and training is one of those messes. It won't surprise us that our old friend Senator Cash was the Minister for Skills and Training for a period of time. Senator McKenzie: She's not old. Senator WATT: Our young friend, our youthful friend, Senator Cash, leaving messes behind, including in the skills and training portfolio. It is correct that the previous government left us with the worst skills shortages in five decades. Those skills shortages were as wide as they were deep. They span sectors right across our economy. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WATT: They are a bit noisy, President. Those opposite rotted our skills base, leaving Australia without the care industry workers, the chefs, the tradies, the hairdressers, the cybersecurity experts and, Senator Sterle, the truckies as well. They left us without all those skills that we needed. Since coming to office, a key mission of our government has been to put TAFE back at the centre of the vocational education and training sector. We are also supporting more people to start their careers in construction to support our ambitious housing targets. Australia does need more houses. And for that we need more tradies. That's why this month we have confirmed our commitment to making housing a national priority under our landmark National Skills Agreement to support building 1.2 million new homes over the next five years. Senator Cash interjecting— Senator WATT: Senator Cash asks how that's going. I will tell you how well that is going, Senator Cash. You could not negotiate a skills agreement with the states and territories while you were in government. We've now got one and it's delivering. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order. Before I call you, Senator Sheldon, I will remind you, Minister, to please address the President in your response. Senator Sheldon, first supplementary.