Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I remember by week two it was starting to sink in for me as well, so I can understand the reaction we've had this week!

This situation was of course made worse by the previous government's decision to abandon migrant workers during pandemic lockdowns, heightening the skills shortages we saw across industries. It's also true the previous government failed to make an agreement with the state and territory governments on skills funding. Not one state or territory government signed up to the previous government's approach, whether they were Labor or coalition. So it's no surprise the previous government neglected TAFEs, the lifeblood of the vocational, educational and training system, and failed to do the work needed for our skills sector. Unlike the former government, we're hitting the ground running, we're taking responsibility and we're— (Time expired)