The Albanese government has sought to play down suggestions artificial intelligence could pave the way for a four-day work week as it rolls out its AI strategy.
It comes after The Australian revealed unions have prepared to push motions at the Labor Party national conference this week, including the call for a four day work week.
In response, Assistant Digital Economy Minister Andrew Charlton told Sky News Sunday Agenda the government was not considering the prospect at the moment.
“I’m not going to get ahead of what might happen well off into the future. I don’t think that’s in prospect at the moment,” Mr Charlton said.
“But we are working to make sure that what’s going to happen here is that as artificial intelligence comes in, it benefits Australian workers.”
Mr Charlton pointed to the government’s recently released report into the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, saying the current impacts were limited.
“That report said that when we look at the impact of AI on jobs at the moment, that impact is modest,” he said.
“We are still seeing strong growth in graduate jobs. We’re still seeing high rates of participation, low rates of unemployment, but we are early on.
“That’s why the Minister for Employment is not being complacent about this. She is bringing unions together with businesses and working together.”
Mr Charlton said the government’s objective was to ensure workers shared in the benefits of AI while drawing on unions’ experience managing technological change.
“Australian unions have worked through waves of technological changes that have hit Australian workplaces,” he said.
“They have an enormous amount of experience in making sure that new technologies as they come into the workplaces ultimately benefit all Australians.
“The government has the same objective. We want to see that this technology comes into workplaces in a way that benefits Australian workers.”
The government’s approach comes as Labor prepares to debate artificial intelligence at the party’s national conference in Adelaide, from Thursday to Saturday.
The Australian Services Union has advocated for a four-day work week, as well as six months’ notice for any job losses linked to the technology.
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume told Sky News Sunday Agenda that Labor’s AI outlook had failed to address the broader opportunities of the technology.
“The opportunity is incredible to lift productivity, which is what our economy so desperately needs, but that’s not what (Anthony Albanese) is talking about,” she said.
She criticised proposals backed by some unions that would give unions greater influence over the adoption of AI in workplaces.
“We know that the ACTU has actually spoken about unions having a veto over private sectors adopting AI technology. Now, that would be unprecedented,” Ms Hume said.
She said unions having veto power over the adoption of AI was like giving veto powers over email technology because it would put people in the mail room out of a job.
Ms Hume also predicted the issue would become a major point of debate at Labor’s national conference.