4 years ago
AI AND FUTURE OF WORK MUST FOCUS ON QUALITY JOBS
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
Artificial Intelligence and rapid advancements in technology will have a profound impact on our society and economy and requires a bipartisan response.
Labor welcomes Minister Andrews comments that AI and the tech sector would be key to jobs growth.
"As with other technological advances, AI will create a large number of new Australian jobs and industries."
THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019
While we welcome this commitment, Labor stresses that the emphasis on jobs must be a genuine commitment to ensure that quality, decent jobs are the result.
This government does not have a good record on quality jobs. Under the Liberals, for the past six years, we have seen record underemployment, rising insecure work, and the advancement of an ideological obsession with attacking workers rights.
Many Australians are deeply anxious about what the future will bring. We must ensure that there continues to be good, well paid jobs with a career path and job security. And we must ensure that all workers are part of our growth story.
Australians will need ever-greater digital skills for our changing economy. We cannot stumble our way to success - we need to plan and act together. But this requires action.
More that three years ago, Minister Cash launched a CSIRO report on ‘Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce’, declaring that “the future of work is upon us…” and calling for “… a conversation as Australians as to where the next IR system is going to take us.”
What ever happened to that conversation? Labor and the rest of the country are having it.
The widespread challenge of the future of work demands a more collective and inclusive redress.
The future of work is a challenge for everyone – businesses, unions and government – to see beyond their own interests and identify threats to a strong national economy and to a thriving business sector.
Labor welcomes Minister Andrews comments that AI and the tech sector would be key to jobs growth.
"As with other technological advances, AI will create a large number of new Australian jobs and industries."
THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019
While we welcome this commitment, Labor stresses that the emphasis on jobs must be a genuine commitment to ensure that quality, decent jobs are the result.
This government does not have a good record on quality jobs. Under the Liberals, for the past six years, we have seen record underemployment, rising insecure work, and the advancement of an ideological obsession with attacking workers rights.
Many Australians are deeply anxious about what the future will bring. We must ensure that there continues to be good, well paid jobs with a career path and job security. And we must ensure that all workers are part of our growth story.
Australians will need ever-greater digital skills for our changing economy. We cannot stumble our way to success - we need to plan and act together. But this requires action.
More that three years ago, Minister Cash launched a CSIRO report on ‘Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce’, declaring that “the future of work is upon us…” and calling for “… a conversation as Australians as to where the next IR system is going to take us.”
What ever happened to that conversation? Labor and the rest of the country are having it.
The widespread challenge of the future of work demands a more collective and inclusive redress.
The future of work is a challenge for everyone – businesses, unions and government – to see beyond their own interests and identify threats to a strong national economy and to a thriving business sector.