Television interview – ABC News Breakfast

Attorney-General’s portfolio Subjects: Data Centres; Copyright & AI. EMMA REBELLATO, HOST : Going to get some federal politics. We're joined by the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland in Sydney.

Thanks for joining us this morning. MICHELLE ROWLAND, ATTORNEY-GENERAL : Good morning. : I want to ask you about the data centres, the new set of Australian standards. Will you be legislating where these centres can be built? : Well, we have made it very clear, as the Prime Minister articulated yesterday, that we need a national, coordinated approach to this issue.

The Prime Minister will be taking these matters to National Cabinet in terms of determining the scope and the terms of that. So, we wait those deliberations, but I think it's very clear that we do need a national approach and the Prime Minister has given the way forward for that. : The Prime Minister yesterday said there'll be genuine community engagement about the data centres.

So, what if the community doesn't want them where they live? Can they veto it? : Well, again, these are matters that will be determined as we consult on the scope of these obligations. But the key point here is that these will be mandatory minimum standards, and that is vital for giving certainty not only to AI investors in future, but also to communities.

I think the fact that we will be involving all levels of government in this activity says to communities that we hear your concerns, but we also understand the need to balance that with investment for an age which is not only here now, but one in which we want to participate as a nation. : We know that a lot of communities are already dealing with data centres where they live.

Will these data centres have to abide by these new rules, or will they be any, perhaps, compensation to communities who are already living near data centres? : Well, these will be mandatory standards applying to new data centres, and the scope and the timing of those is something that I think will be properly determined by National Cabinet. I think it's also fair to say that this is an issue that not only state governments, but local councils have been dealing with as well.

I think the fact that the Federal Government, through the Prime Minister, is showing leadership in this area really demonstrates that we want a coordinated approach, to say Australia is open for business, but on our terms. : We know a lot of people are really worried about jobs at the moment too, particularly young people. They're worried about jobs when they graduate from high school and university.

They're worried about whether their jobs will be sustainable in the future. Will these standards be looking at any consumer rules or workplace rights? : Well, again, as the Prime Minister articulated yesterday, we've had the first substantive report about AI in the workplaces. What that does show is that AI is being embraced.

It is still in nascent stages in some areas, but it will only get more fierce. So, we need to be ready, we need to be prepared as a Government and as a society for the changes that that will bring. The Prime Minister, I think, articulated very well the fact that we want good paying jobs to be created as a result of AI.

I think that so many areas of our society and our businesses had to adapt in everything from legal services to the way in which financial services are done. That won't change, the pace of change will continue to accelerate. I think the fact that as a Government and through the coordinating role that the Prime Minister will be taking in this demonstrates that we understand these issues and we understand the concerns and we are going to ensure that we have a good path going forward. : Regarding copyright protections for creatives and journalists, we know that a lot of the big tech have been wanting exemptions.

Are you worried that they'll now turn away and not look to invest in Australia, given that you've come down hard and saying there will be no exemptions? : Well, again, the primacy here is the importance of Australian culture and ensuring that creators have ownership and control of their work and are properly recompensed for that. That is the basis of a copyright regime that has served Australia well.

Again, this is a property right that has been around for a very long time. It's been very durable through the various ages of technological developments. I would note that Australian artists want to engage with AI, they want the benefits that will accrue to their industries arising from that.

We made it very clear last year that we were ruling out a text and data mining exception, we stand by that. Again, creatives will be coming to the table to look at ways in which we can ensure that they are getting properly recompensed and also that they can thrive in the new AI economy. : Michelle Rowland, thanks for your time.