Speakman said the new minister will be at the forefront of the statewide AI strategy. “It can ease our teachers, nurses, and many public sector workers in our mundane jobs, increase productivity and drive any tax even further,” he said. Newswire. The plan includes not only a dedicated ministries and AI national action plan, but also a low-profit “AI for biz” loan to help small businesses adopt “responsible AI.”
Speakman aims to follow countries such as Canada, France, the UAE, and Taiwan. He argues that NSW will not be delayed by driving innovation. “All technological changes have made us feel better in our standard of living,” he said. “I want Australia and NSW to be their leaders, not their followers.”
Not everyone is ready to sign off. Troy Wright, assistant secretary of the Public Service Association, warned that AI has “failed so far due to lack of empathy.” He specifically uses sensitive data to urge caution. “Keeping it safe has to be our number one priority,” he says.
Speakman retorts that the AI minister will also oversee reskilled workers to ensure that technology will be augmented rather than replacing work. He draws out similarities with Luddites, claiming that past fears about technology are ultimately proven wrong and that AI will produce increasingly productive work.
Giving a budget reply speech in late June, Speakman branded the timing urgent amid increased costs of living and criticism for the Labour government spending. Meanwhile, he has framed AI as a way to further extend all taxes. Meanwhile, it focuses on other pressing issues, housing shortages, expansion of healthcare, and small-scale support. It is still unclear whether AI has acquired a formal ministries.
