The Albanese Government will use a three-day economic summit this week to prepare Australia for a hi-tech future.
The Prime Minister says some ideas will be acted on immediately, while others may be taken to the Australian people at the next election.
At a mining industry expo today, the Prime Minister explored the world of innovation, machine learning and artificial intelligence to transform the working lives of the next generation.
But with technology moving so fast, knowing which buttons to press and what they might do isn’t always easily seen.
Anthony Albanese saying his Government’s economic summit will be pushing for new ideas.
“There’ll be some that can be done immediately.”
To speed up the building of new homes, the National Construction Code will be frozen and AI will be deployed to process environmental red tape holding up 30,000 housing approvals.
On the matter of electric vehicles, the summit will spur a national roll-out of a road user charge to replace fuel excise.
“We’ll take the time to get those sorts of considerations right,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.
Although, the economic roundtable will be notable for what it won’t do – the Government saying it wants to spend its time and energy on areas where consensus may be possible.
So, out go some of the more contentious areas of reform. There’ll be no changes to GST, negative gearing or capital gains tax.
Nor is the Government keen to consider any changes to industrial relations laws.
“How we make the system simpler, more straightforward, and introduce harmony into the workplace so people can get paid more,” Shadow Industrial Minister Tim Wilson said.
While Nationals Leader David Littleproud said “the unions again are high up in the stirrups, they’re running the show”.
But the treasurer disagreed with the sentiment.
“No matter what the question is, these characters always think the answer is less pay, worse conditions and harsher industrial relations,” Chalmers said.
The Government’s instead in the market for proposals they take to the next election in 2028, aiming to future proof the economy – and, the Albanese Government.
“Three days to help inform the next three budgets,” Chalmers added.
