Chalmers Addresses Worker Fears as Productivity Commission Releases AI Technology Report
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Chalmers Addresses Worker Fears as Productivity Commission Releases AI Technology Report
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers positioned artificial intelligence as a transformative force for the nation's economy during a press conference announcing the Productivity Commission's latest report on data and digital technology.
Describing AI as a "game changer" with potential to support major economic goals, Chalmers emphasized the government's commitment to maximizing AI opportunities while managing associated risks. The announcement comes as part of broader preparations for an upcoming economic reform roundtable featuring 75 CEOs and senior business leaders, designed to address Australia's persistent productivity challenges and unlock investment across key sectors.
Addressing widespread worker concerns about technological displacement, Chalmers outlined a "sensible middle path" that positions employees as beneficiaries rather than victims of AI advancement.
The Treasurer rejected both "let it rip" approaches and denial strategies, instead advocating for worker empowerment through skills development and inclusive technology adoption. This balanced approach aligns with the Productivity Commission's recommendations and forms part of a comprehensive agenda addressing both cyclical and structural economic issues, including the upcoming release of critical wages and employment data that will inform future policy directions.
Apple, YouTube Fail to Track Child Abuse Reports on Platforms, Australian Regulator Reveals
Apple services and Google's YouTube cannot track the number of user reports they receive about child sexual abuse on their platforms and are unable to report response times for such critical safety issues, according to Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
The findings emerged from legally enforceable transparency notices served on eight major technology companies, including Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, revealing widespread failures to implement basic child protection measures despite years of regulatory pressure. The report showed that none of the companies used detection tools for livestreamed abuse across all services, while several failed to deploy hash matching technology and URL blocking for known child abuse material.
The transparency report represents Australia's escalating confrontation with global technology platforms over child safety, coinciding with the federal government's decision to include YouTube in its world-first social media ban for teenagers under 16.
Commissioner Inman Grant criticized companies for "seemingly turning a blind eye to crimes occurring on their services," noting that no other consumer-facing industry would be permitted to operate while enabling such crimes. While some improvements were acknowledged, including expanded use of detection tools by Discord, Microsoft, and WhatsApp, the regulator emphasized that major gaps persist across platforms serving billions of users globally, with the next transparency report due in early 2026.
Coalition Senator Blasts Government for Shelving Economic Reforms as Productivity Hits 60-Year Low
National Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie has accused the federal government of abandoning its ambitious economic reform agenda, claiming Australia's productivity has reached its "lowest point in 60 years" while critical reforms on industrial relations, energy, and tax remain shelved.
Speaking on ABC with just two weeks until Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Economic Reform Roundtable, the Victorian senator criticized the government for scaling back from what she termed "the big three" reform areas despite holding a significant electoral mandate.
McKenzie argued that while the Treasurer initially showed genuine excitement about reform, telling stakeholders to "bring me your ideas," the government has instead opted for a limited agenda focused on regulatory changes rather than structural economic transformation.
Despite her criticism of the government's approach, McKenzie indicated the Coalition would support meaningful economic reforms and surprisingly aligned with former Labor minister Ed Husic in backing strong artificial intelligence regulation.
The senator warned that AI poses risks beyond job displacement, potentially challenging fundamental aspects of human creativity and expression, invoking physicist Stephen Hawking's concerns about the technology's long-term impact on humanity. With over 900 submissions received for the economic reform process, McKenzie called for transparency in releasing all proposals publicly, arguing that "good ideas shouldn't be stuffed in the bottom drawer" and urging the government to leverage its political mandate for comprehensive reform addressing Australia's mounting productivity challenges.
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