QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Science. Minister, I refer to the assistant minister's speech on AI today at the Crawford School about how we ensure that Australia captures the economic benefits of AI. There was no mention in this speech of ensuring large multinational tech companies pay their fair share of tax in this country.

We know that these big tech companies are experts at offshoring profits and minimising their taxable income in Australia. I note the assistant minister's point that local Australian companies built world-leading mining services businesses and governments collected taxes and royalties. My question is: are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes of the mining boom and of gas exports by failing to capture a benefit for Australians if you're not actually talking about the long-term benefits when it comes to tax return?