Ms BYRNES (Cunningham) (17:20): Congratulations on your election to the speakers panel, Deputy Speaker Mascarenhas. I'm very pleased for you. Australia is standing at the edge of an extraordinary technological revolution, one that is already changing the way we live, the way we work and the way we interact with each other. Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept for the future; it is here. It is integrated in our workplaces. It's in the services that we use, and, increasingly, it's in the decisions that shape our daily lives. It is driving advances in health care, helping reduce carbon emissions and transforming industries, from manufacturing to agriculture. If we get this right, the benefits for Australia are immense. AI could contribute up to $200 billion a year to our GDP and create 150,000 additional jobs by 2030. It could increase annual labour productivity growth by more than three per cent over the same period. It is vital for our future that we embrace AI in a regulatory environment that facilitates innovation and also mitigates the harm that it could do. It is absolutely critical to get the balance right. We want an Australia where technology creates opportunity, not inequality, and where workers, businesses and communities all share in the benefits.
One of the biggest risks for Australia is falling behind in capability. We want to see investment in building our capabilities right here in Australia and not moving offshore. We need governments, unions and businesses all working together to get the best outcomes. We need to secure the Australian advantage, and that means leveraging the opportunities AI presents for improved efficiencies, better productivity and, ultimately, better competitiveness. We can already see businesses in Australia using artificial intelligence to power their operations and enhance their productivity. The latest AI Adoption Tracker shows 41 per cent of small and medium enterprises are currently using AI—a figure that keeps increasing. This is leading to improved decision-making and better productivity, which are really great to see.
The Albanese Labor Government is working to improve our comparative advantages and grow the AI industry through our National AI Capability Plan. We want to upskill small and medium enterprises and train our future workers. Just one example is the microskill course Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, delivered by TAFE. I am so proud that this is a free, online course thanks to the Albanese Labor Government. This is helping workers to find real work applications of AI. We've got the $47 million Next Generation Graduates Program which trains job-ready graduates in skills needed by our AI and emerging technology industries.
I'm also really proud of the role that the Illawarra is playing in this transition. The University of Wollongong's Centre for Artificial Intelligence is focusing on pioneering research to develop innovative theories and techniques of AI. The centre works to support the transfer of that knowledge into industry, community and science. As a community with a strong manufacturing base, innovating new and improved manufacturing processes, the Illawarra is perfectly placed to take advantage of the opportunities that AI can provide. At the same time, we need to make sure that this isn't at the cost of workers. Our focus needs to remain on delivering good, secure, well-paid jobs, and I was very pleased to hear our new Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Tim Ayres, talk about strengthening worker voice and agency as technology is diffused into workplaces. This is really important, and I'm really proud to be part of a government that is prioritising this.
We are working across government to ensure there is clarity, consistency and certainty for the tech sector in delivering these improvements for our national interest. The National Artificial Intelligence Centre supports and accelerates our AI industry, aiming to help Australia become a global leader in developing and adopting trusted, secure and responsible AI. We're investing in the sector through our AI Adopt Centres and the National Reconstruction Fund, which targets critical technologies like AI.
Importantly, Australia is collaborating on the science of AI safety through the International Network of AI Safety Institutes. This network is ensuring international cooperation on AI safety, and that is a top priority—helping government and communities understand the risks posed by AI and working towards solutions to minimise harm.
