NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman says AI Minister would free teachers, nurses from ‘mundane tasks'

News.com.au

a day ago

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman says an Australia-first Minister for Artificial Intelligence would free teachers and nurses from 'mundane tasks', as the Coalition twists the knife on Labor over AI and housing.
The Liberal leader made his pitch for an AI-driven solution to NSW's productivity crisis during a scathing budget reply speech on Thursday.
Mr Speakman said a Coalition government would establish a Minister for AI and an AI action plan, as well as low-interest 'AI for Biz' loans for small and medium-sized business looking to introduce 'responsible AI'.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Speakman shed new light on the potential remit of the Australian-first minister, which he said would engage with the private sector to ensure the public service was 'using AI as much as possible'.
'It can relieve our teachers, our nurses, a whole lot of public sector workers of mundane tasks, improve productivity, and drive every tax dollar further,' he said.
'At a time when we've all got a cost-of-living crisis, we want to see our taxpayer dollars go as far as possible, and we think that (AI) is a great way to drive it.
'Every technological change has increased living standards and I want Australia and NSW to be leaders of that, not followers.'
If established, the new ministry would be an Australian-first and joins only a small handful of countries that have similar AI-specific government roles, including Canada, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan.
Asked about fears AI might take jobs, Mr Speakman recalled the anti-technology 19th century Luddites, who 'threw their shoes in machines'.
'Every time you've had major technological change in the history of humankind that's been a fear,' Mr Speakman said of job losses.
'Across the economy, it'll be impacted (by AI) but I think you'll end up with more jobs, not fewer.
'There'll be very different jobs and more productive jobs and ultimately higher living standards.'
Mr Speakman said that there may be 'different jobs' with AI, but that it 'doesn't take them away', and that the AI Minister would be responsible for re-skilling.
While increasingly commonplace, AI remains a controversial topic in many workplaces.
Public Service Association Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright said AI had 'thus far failed because it lacks the empathy of a human' in public facing role trials.
'We need to think twice before we set AI loose in the public sector because we store a lot of the public's confidential and personal information and keeping that secure must be our number one priority,' he said.
'We do agree about the need to closely monitor the use of AI in the public sector and will be consulting with the Minns Government on their approach so the public can rest assured both that their personal information is safe and they have timely access to the frontline services they're entitled to.'
Housing the 'biggest issue in town'
It comes as the Coalition twists the knife on Labor following its third budget under Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and less than two years out from the next state election.
Mr Speakman has accused Labor of not doing enough on cost of living, and has pledged to reinstate the Full Active Kids Program, establish a 'fairer' payroll tax scheme for small businesses, as well as preventive health hubs, expanded telehealth, and prioritising emergency care.
But, it was housing that Mr Speakman was the 'biggest issue in town'.
He claimed the budget showed Labor would fall 137,000 homes short of the National Housing Accord target.
'Ultimately, the price of anything, whether you're a rent or buy, is a product of supply and demand,' he said.
'But, the government is failing to get the number of home completions we need to ramp up supply to make our homes affordable.'
Mr Speakman called for government to address the 'biggest obstacles', namely taxes and charges on developers, as well as critical adjoining infrastructure.
He said a Coalition government would reintroduce the First Homebuyers Choice Program and exempting stamp duty for eligible older Australians looking to downsize.
It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns remains mum on the state government's so-called 'Plan B' for housing close to the city after the failure of the Rosehill purchase.
Members of the Australian Turf Club last month voted to reject a $5bn deal for the historic racecourse, which would have paved the way for 25,000 new homes.
Asked about whether the Coalition had its own 'Plan B', Mr Speakman said to 'wait and see' and highlighted the party's own 2022 plan for Rosehill.
The Labor government announced a range of housing measures in the 2025-26 budget, including that the state will go guarantor for developers on some 5000 homes.