Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

This motion is very important. The goal of 1.2 million tech related jobs by 2030 is a noble and important one. Unfortunately, making a commitment is the first step, but having and delivering a plan to do that is the most important step. There are some things that this government needs to do to make sure we can deliver these 1.2 million tech related jobs. The first is to appoint a minister for the digital economy. A minister for the digital economy will do two important things: firstly, it will send a signal to the industry, to the market and to investors that the government is serious about this industry and these opportunities; and, secondly—and crucially—it will develop the strategy needed to make sure we have a plan. The former government had a minister for the digital economy and a 2030 strategy that was being implemented to make a difference. I continue to call on the government to appoint a minister for the digital economy.

There are other things that could be done that aren't being done. Again, with this government you hear a lot of announcements, but it's low on delivery. Not a dollar has been committed to get the Digital and Tech Skills Compact, which those opposite have talked about, off the ground. There was no line item in either the October 2022 or the May 2023 budget. Talking about how important it is is one thing, but putting the money behind it to get it up and running is crucial, and there is no money from this government for the Digital and Tech Skills Compact in the budget.

Microcredentials are crucial when we are talking about upskilling Australians in the tech sector. In 2021, the former coalition had the Job-ready Graduates Package, which included $4.2 million for the microcredentials marketplace. We don't hear anything from this government about microcredentials, but it is crucial when it comes to tech and innovation. Let's use cyber as an example, but I could use any other industry in the tech sector. The reality is that many of the jobs in cyber that are needed today didn't exist when I graduated 15 years ago or when others graduated 15 to 20 years ago. If we want those people to re-skill, they do not have the ability to spend four years out of the marketplace, because they've got homes, families and financial commitments. Microcredentials allow them to get and continue to build the skills that they need to then work in these tech companies. It is something that is crucial for innovation and for getting these tech related jobs up and running.

Those opposite will talk about the National Quantum Strategy, which was announced in May. But, again, there is no new funding for this strategy; there is no action at all. We're seeing the trend, whether it's AI, which I'll get to, or whether it's quantum, where there are a lot of announcements, but there's no money behind them and there's no action, which is frustrating industry. AI is a great example of where there is a lot of talk by this government. The minister in February this year at the AFR Workforce Summit said that they would develop a national strategy on AI. We're about to enter December, and it's crickets from this government around AI. They released a discussion paper. Disappointingly, with that discussion paper, its scope talked about the risks of AI—which we need to mitigate—but did not include looking at the opportunities that AI brings. At a time when productivity is falling through the floor, how can we not look at the opportunities for productivity in the economy and for business through AI? It's December, and we've heard nothing from this government, and industry is frustrated. Industry has had to resort to using the EU legislation and regulations on AI because it knows that they're as tough and as hard as they can get. So they work off that platform and they know that they should, hopefully, be safe into the future. This is the reality. We're asking businesses to invest in jobs, in innovation and in AI, without having any certainty around the requirements from the government. They will talk a lot about the importance of this, but they're not delivering.

I'll quickly finish by talking about the National Reconstruction Fund.

I do notice, with the motion from those opposite, that there has been a cut. The $15 billion has been cut to $1.5 billion, so I'm assuming the Treasurer signed off on that, showing a bit more economic responsibility. It is off budget, so I'm surprised he's cut it to $1.5 billion. Again, there's a big announcement by those opposite but nothing's happening. I was talking to someone who should qualify for the National Reconstruction Fund and is looking for capital. He said: 'Nothing's been done. I've got no clarity. It's two to three years before I can even look at the National Reconstruction Fund.' They talk a big game around tech and digital, but they are not delivering anything for the industry. (Time expired)

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