QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:16): I thank the member for Ryan for her question. It goes to artificial intelligence and its impact in local communities, which is something that has caused an issue around the world, it must be said. We think that there is enormous benefit to come from artificial intelligence in areas such as health care, health provision and doing analysis to make a difference.

There are benefits in education and potentially benefits in productivity as well. But that doesn't mean that there are not risks which need to be mitigated, which is why I announced that we would legislate for Australian standards to make sure that artificial intelligence works in our national interests. This was raised as well at our National Cabinet meeting, and it was agreed there that we would progress the legislation, which, because of the corporations power, the Commonwealth will have power to legislate to ensure that the suggestion that has been made that it would increase power prices, that it won't do that, and that it will need renewables.

If there is surplus energy in, for example, gas, in some areas, then we would allow that to be used on the proviso that it does not put pressure on the system and therefore put pressure on the prices that ordinary Australians are paying. Why is that important? That's important because you need social licence for these institutions, and we're working constructively to make sure that that social licence is available—is absolutely critical.

We've said very clearly that we must shape AI or it will shape us. Areas such as sovereign capability, our capacity to provide for the defence and security of Australia is absolutely essential. There's the idea that we just say, 'We'll have a moratorium on new technology,' which is one option that has been put forward, I know, by the Greens political party.

What I want to do is not have a moratorium. I want us to be at the forefront of shaping it in our national interest, because this is a technology that is happening. You can engage in ChatGPT, or any of these facilities right now.

It is having an impact. That is why we can't afford to sit on the sidelines, because if we sit on the sidelines we won't have any impact on how this rolls out. Next week, at the United Nations, I expect that this will be a major topic of conversation on the way.

I leave tomorrow night. I leave and arrive on the same night because of the way that it works in San Francisco, for meetings to take place. I'll engage constructively, and I would encourage all of the parliament to engage with the committee chaired by the member for Maribyrnong and deputy chaired by Senator Duniam, in the other place, and engage constructively.

This should not be a partisan issue. This is one which really requires the national interest to be first and foremost.