Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Science and Minister for Industry and Innovation. Big tech and their mates have been running around this place telling the government that weakening our copyright laws is the price we have to pay for a strong AI industry. What a load of rubbish. Basically they want to use all of our creative content for free. Channel 9's CEO told the Financial Review last year that AI were crawling Nine's website almost 10 times a second. That's not innovation. That's called plain-out theft. Minister, your government has said that you won't change our copyright laws and that you will protect Australia's creative industries. Can you reassure Australians that we will stand firm and protect Australian copyright holders?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Lambie. The short answer is yes. The longer answer, if I might take a little bit of the allotted time, is that of course artificial intelligence offers Australia a significant opportunity. It does come with some risks that it is the government's responsibility to manage.

The National AI Plan that the government released at the end of last year, if my memory serves me correctly, had three core components. The first was making sure that we capture the opportunity of artificial intelligence investment here in Australia not just for economic reasons but for security and strategic reasons as well as much of the technology stack here in Australia. Second is that we spread the benefits throughout the Australian community and make sure that it's captured not just for the CBDs of our inner cities but for Australians in the suburbs and small and medium enterprises in our economy, and that Australians in the regions benefit from this technology. Third is dealing with the risks and dealing with the harms, and that is what the AI Safety Institute has been commissioned to do. That is, of course, accompanied by a solid commitment from this government to not undermine copyright protections for Australian artists and other Australian content producers—you cite newspapers and television—as well. That's our approach, and it hasn't changed.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, first supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Big tech like Anthropic and OpenAI are valued in the billions. In fact, Google's Alphabet is worth $4 trillion. These companies can afford to pay for Australian copyright. Minister, what plans do you have to make big tech pay and to regulate AI so they will stop getting a free ride?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are no free rides in Australia for people who want to use—like everybody else, whether it's big tech—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator McKim!

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about the PRRT? That's a—

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It seems the usual behavioural problem is replicated again down here.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Ayres, please resume your seat. Senator McKim, come to order. Minister, please continue.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the Attorney-General said first in October last year and has repeated consistently since, the government is not considering a text- and data-mining exception for Australia. We are not considering that as an option for Australia. We stand firmly behind Australia's creative industries and will continue to do so.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, second supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, last week you heard the Canadian PM encourage middle powers like Australia to invest in our Australian made AI. This is not just a sovereignty issue; it's also a national security issue. It is so damn important, but we still have no minister for AI. Canada has invested $4.4 billion. Meanwhile, we're letting big tech take Australians for a ride. Can the minister tell me why we aren't investing in Australian made AI?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just make the point, firstly that Australia is an excellent place for artificial intelligence investment, both in digital infrastructure, because of our vast reserves of solar and wind and storage backed by gas—that is what that sector wants to see; that is the power and energy equation that they want to see, because it's the lowest cost for them—and because of our significant space, because of our proximity to fast-growing digital markets in our region, and also because of our secure governance and our stable, secure arrangements, in security terms, with partner economies. That offers—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance: I'd like to know why we aren't investing in AI in Australia, in our Australian firms.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. The minister is being relevant to your question, Senator Lambie, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's exactly the point, Senator Lambie. Australia is an attractive destination for investors.