(From abc.net.au) -- The Federal Government is defending its multi-billion dollar skills training program aimed at easing Australia's critical skills shortage.

The program was set up by the Rudd government in 2008 and was designed to provide hundreds of thousands of training places over five years.

But a report obtained through freedom of information has found the training program has failed to target crucial areas of need and says it's impossible to estimate how many people have taken part.

But the Government says the report is out of date and the program is achieving its goals.

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