QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:37): This question gives me an opportunity, Senator Pocock—I am touched, as I'm sure Assistant Minister Charlton will be, by your positive reflections upon his speech. He is a very capable assistant minister and cabinet secretary, as it happens. I can tell you it is one of the real joys of my job, which has many, many benefits, to be working with someone as capable and as ambitious for Australia on this question—our critical technology capabilities, whether it's artificial intelligence or quantum wrestling with the challenges that that represents for Australia and Australians, but also the opportunities— Senator David Pocock: Point of order on relevance.

My question was: should the minister responsible for AI be in cabinet? The PRESIDENT: There was a preamble. The minister's being relevant to your question.

Senator AYRES: He is a very capable assistant minister. He is a cabinet secretary. He is very influential in my office, I can tell you, when he works with me on these issues, and very influential within government.

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