Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

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 upfront 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)