QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:10): I thank the member for Hughes for his question. Indeed, global uncertainty and conflict overseas is putting Australians under real pressure, and that's why I'll always show up to shape a better future and for Australia to have a say in these forums. Tomorrow I will travel to the United States.

It will be an opportunity to talk our nation up, showing the world everything we have to offer. On Saturday I will have meetings in San Francisco, including with Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and other meetings will take place in the United States with the private sector, as well as my obviously representing Australia at the United Nations General Assembly, along with the Foreign Minister.

I'll be working with our partners as well to build on the record which has seen now 20 countries since we announced our social media ban for under-16s engage in action themselves. And of course also, as has been raised a number of times now during this question time, it is important that we have dialogue about governance arrangements with regard to artificial intelligence, making sure that we get the economic and security benefits that can come with AI but doing it in a way that protects Australia's national interests.

Now, to do that, we have to be engaged with our friends in the United States, because the two big countries that are engaged, of course, are the United States and China in what is this extraordinary emerging technology that will change the way that society functions over our lifetime. But over the next decade, if we don't get this right in the next few years, it can get away from us, and we need to make sure that doesn't occur.

When Australia is overseas, we also represent our region, the Pacific family. And there will be engagement with them about issues including, of course, climate change, which is the number one issue for our Pacific family. It's also talking about the opportunities which are there, given that Australia has the resources, technology and people to drive the world's clean energy transition, including the critical minerals and rare earths that we have.

I'll be discussing with our American friends the agreement that was put in place by me and President Trump and how that is progressing. While there, I'll also launch our bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. It is vital that, as a middle power, Australia play its role.

We are respected around the world. The biggest challenges that Australia faces are global ones, and that's why us having a say at the UN Security Council table is very much in Australia's national interests. And on that note, Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.