Artificial Intelligence

Senator SHARMA (New South Wales) (14:52): My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Treasurer has said that the government sees AI, artificial intelligence, as 'a huge opportunity for Australia'. He said:

… it's a key part of our productivity agenda, an absolute game changer … Regulation will matter but we are overwhelmingly focused on capabilities and opportunities, not just guardrails.

Yet, at the AFR AI summit in June, Senator Ayres, the Minister for Industry and Innovation, promised to give unions a significant say over the AI rollout. Can the minister confirm this: do the Treasurer's comments reflect the government's approach to the opportunities presented by AI?

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:53): I thank Senator Sharma for the question. It's an important question—the question around AI. There are obviously a lot of opportunities that come with AI, but there are also challenges, and I think we need to be up-front about that. Senator Ayres and Mr Charlton in the other place are leading the work across government looking at AI across the economy. My responsibility is looking at AI across government, and I'm doing that. Of course, the Treasurer is included in all of those discussions, as you would expect, as our leading economic spokesperson. We do believe there is a role, an important role, for unions to play in discussions, alongside other stakeholders. I've held a round table recently on AI. There is a lot of engagement from business community because they see the opportunities and challenges as well. Indeed, in the last few weeks I've spent time with a number of the big companies in Australia who are implementing AI across their businesses, and all of them talk about working with their employees in one way or another, including with union representatives.

This is an issue that workers deserve to have a say on and to be involved in. This is a big change coming to workplaces. It's happening already. There is no going back. But there is a responsibility on us as leaders in government, in business and across society to ensure that working people and jobs and the opportunities that come with AI are considered fully and that different viewpoints are heard. We make no apology for that at all.

I would encourage the opposition to engage in similar terms. If you want to be serious about the opportunities and challenges of AI, get involved. Talk to unions, talk to business and understand what is happening. (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: Senator Sharma, first supplementary?

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:56): I don't think it's any surprise that the ACTU would advocate on behalf of their members and member organisations. The Business Council and the AI Group—any stakeholder representation group—come in and do the same; of course they do. The government is keen to work with business and unions on how we manage and respond to AI across the economy. We want to find consensus where there is one and we want to deal with some of these challenges. Every country is dealing with them. Australia is no different. But to suggest that the ACTU shouldn't have a voice or that workers shouldn't have a say or be consulted or have real influence on our thinking, is ridiculous. It will relegate you. Those views will relegate you to the opposition benches for years to come if that's the view you hold.

Workers have a right to have a say. Business has a right to have a say. Governments should listen to all of that and find a sensible pathway through it. (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: Senator Sharma, second supplementary?

Senator SHARMA (New South Wales) (14:57): Thanks for that answer, Minister. Can the minister rule out that productivity-stifling concessions on AI have not and will not be made to unions in advance of the reform summit and that outcomes won't just be another stitch-up like the last jobs and skills summit?