Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The more they keep talking about this, the more they avoid changing. It just makes them look and more and more embarrassing. It is simple. Every part of the economy and the world that we live in is driven by digital technology, commerce and data. As a government, we know this and that is why we are continuing to invest in an inclusive, sustainable economy supported by technologies.

My good friend, the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, released Australia's first National Quantum Strategy in May last year to boost our economic competitiveness to our target of 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030. Australia has been a global pioneer in cutting-edge quantum research for decades. We are using a thriving quantum industry to boost our economic competitiveness and help solve our biggest national challenges. We finally have a government that is setting Australia up to be a success, and we are well on track. We are already seeing how quantum-sensing equipment is making a huge difference for industry.

In time, quantum computing will unleash incredible computing power that can hugely outperform traditional computing. Quantum industries are on track to create 19,400 direct jobs with $5.9 billion of revenue by 2045. Quantum technology uses the study of the smallest building blocks in nature, subatomic particles, to help solve some of the biggest challenges we face, such as cutting the time and cost for developing new medicines; helping the transition to net zero with more efficient battery storage; and safeguarding cyber infrastructure. By pairing our National Quantum Strategy with the National Reconstruction Fund, we are aiming to turn Australia into a global technology leader, building stronger industry and creating jobs for the future. We have seen eight per cent growth in workers in the tech workforce since we came to government. Like me, 40 per cent of the tech sector workforce did not go to university and do not have a degree. This presents an opportunity for everyone.

Our industry growth program is open for business. Those opposite like to talk about the importance of backing innovation. But the truth is that they failed to deliver for businesses and entrepreneurs. After all, they did vote against the National Reconstruction Fund, one of the largest investments to build a future made in Australia, which included $1 billion for enabling technologies. In the 2023-24 budget, the government delivered $41 million to extend the National AI Centre's work on responsible AI in industry alongside support for small and medium-size enterprise adopting AI for the first time. We also stumped up $40 million to deliver the Critical Technologies Challenges Program, which will deliver greater awareness and increase uptake in quantum technologies in Australia. In addition, we delivered $20 million to establish the Australian Centre for Quantum Growth.

When it comes to AI, this government is making sure the development and adoption of AI technologies are safe and responsible. AI presents a great opportunity to drive economic growth and productivity across the Australian economy, and we all want Australians to benefit from it. But we understand the need for strong safeguards to oversee high-risk AI advancements. This is why, after community consultation on safe and responsible AI, the government has outlined actions on AI in high-risk settings. The community made more than 500 submissions, and we are bringing AI safety in line with community expectations. We developed a voluntary AI safety standard with the industry and considered options for watermarking and labelling for all AI generated content. We are also considering the possibility of mandatory safeguards for organisations who develop or deploy AI in legitimate but high-risk settings. We will continue to build domestic AI capacity across industry and government.

Those opposite talk a big game when it comes to technology—and most other things as well, may I say. It would have been nice if they actually delivered around this whole industry in the 10 years they were in government. We are where we are now, and we've got ourselves out of the mess, and that's what this Australian Labor Albanese government is doing.

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