Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know the world of work is going to experience profound change, driven largely by an embrace of technology that will alter the way we perform our jobs. We know that 3.5 million jobs will potentially be impacted by automation in some way. In a labour market of 12 million, that's a big deal. Getting young people ready for those changes and skilling them up is a fundamental national priority, and getting them to lift their digital skills base is hugely important.

There are a lot of schools in my area within the seat of Chifley that are doing just that, working very hard to prepare young people for these changes. Last week we got to demonstrate what having a strong digital skills base and having proficiency in technology means, when Tesla visited two schools in our area to show the technology behind leading-edge electric vehicles. The first stop was Plumpton High, where we met with three outstanding students with engineering teacher Stephen Attard and head of TAS Nigel Shakespeare, Plumpton having competed in F1 in schools competitions for a number of years and doing fantastic work there. We also visited Quakers Hill Public School through the strong leadership of Principal Bert Lo Campo. Both schools are learning a great deal but also getting the next generation involved in digital skills development.