Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well done. Congratulations.

The next one: Rest assured that ministers of this government are diligently working together to ensure the adoption of generative AI that is guided by ethical considerations, privacy protection, prevention of online harm, and responsible usage. Furthermore, we have started to take proactive measures to establish regulatory frameworks for AI in Australia as trailblazers in the field. We were among the first nations to develop national AI ethics principles, underscoring our commitment to responsible AI development. Through proactive steps, this government demonstrates our unwavering dedication to ensuring that AI development and deployment in Australia align with our values, priorities and the best interests of our citizens. Go the Rabbitohs—okay; that one was the Prime Minister!

The next one: Our commitment to the safe and responsible implementation of AI goes beyond mere policy discussions, because we do not want AI to do us slowly. In the 2023-24 budget we have allocated a substantial $41 million to bolster industry adoption of responsible AI practices through the National AI Centre. Furthermore, we have allocated a significant sum of $132 million to the eSafety Commissioner. This allocation is testament to our unwavering dedication to safeguarding the wellbeing of Australians in the digital realm.

We firmly believe in the importance of widening the pipeline of STEM talent in Australia. By nurturing an environment of inclusivity and providing support for development of STEM skills, we can cultivate a skilled workforce that drives innovation in the field of AI while upholding our core Labor values of safety, responsibility and inclusivity.

An honourable member: That's got to be Gillard!

Ha-ha!

We recognise the pressing nature of this issue and the imperative to develop robust policies that address the risk of AI.

An honourable member: No AI will live in poverty?

I want to finish by just calling out the member for Bruce for his passion in this area. I think he's been at the forefront, in this parliament, of I guess uptake of AI and promoting its use as well as ensuring that we as politicians take real care in understanding the good and the bad of AI. So, looking at his robust motion today, I did have to put my name down to speak to it, because this is an exciting time—but also a concerning one, so it's good that we've got members like the member for Bruce here.

See this speech in context