News and politics: Taylor accuses AI Office of ‘creating more bureaucracy’, Donald Trump reverses Hormuz toll

Jane Hume has accused Labor of being divided over the role of unions in the rollout of AI.

The deputy Liberal leader’ comments come after Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth ruled out a union right of veto over the use of AI.

Ms Hume argued Labor was ‘tearing itself up’ over whether unions should have the power to block private sector companies from adopting the technology.

“We know unions have pushed Labor’s agenda every step of the way over the last four years,” she said

“There is hardly anything on the union’s wishlist that hasn’t already been delivered by this government.

“Think about that, a right of veto as to whether a company can adopt a new technology.

“Can you imagine if unions had have had a right of veto as to whether a company could adopt computers?”

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has aired his disapproval of Anthony Albanese’s AI Office, which is set to be formally announced in a speech later today.

Speaking on parts of the speech seen by The Nightly, Mr Taylor accused the Prime Minister of wanting to create an “office inside his own office” and more bureaucracy.

“He’s announced an office inside his own office. He’s got to have another office and what is that office going to do?” Mr Taylor told reporters in north-west Sydney.

“The answer to this is not more bureaucracy. The trouble with this prime minister and this government is the answer to every problem is always more bureaucracy.”

Oppostion Science and Technology spokesman Aaron Violi has slammed the timing of Labor’s AI Office, labelleing the move something that should have happened “three years ago”.

“The reality is, if you look at the history of this government, they’ve failed when it comes to AI. Under Ed (Husic) they were going down an AI act and overregulation,” he said.

“He got knifed. They reversed that with Tim Ayres. It’s a light touch approach, complete chaos. We’ve now got the PM saying, look, I’m going to step in and show leadership.

“You should have shown leadership three years ago because it has impacted Australians for the last 3 to 4 years. And this is just another example of the government not being up to it, not leading, but following the conversation.”

The US Central Command has carried out further strikes on Iranian targets to “degrade” its military capabilities.

“To continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” it wrote on X.

“The strikes are taking place as American forces prepare to resume the naval blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas.”

Andrew Charlton has spuiked the governement’s AI plan ahead of the Prime Minister’s official speech this afternoon.

The Science and Technology Minister said the approach is aimed at making sure the adoption of AI works in the “interest of Australians.”

“We need to make sure that Australia shapes the future of how this technology is deployed,” Mr Charlton told Radio National.

“And there are many different levels of government that are involved in the way that large AI data centers are deployed.

“We want to make sure that this aspect of the implementation of AI in Australia is delivered in a way that benefits local communities.

“We want to learn the lessons from abroad, where many of these data centers have been rolled out in ways that have damaged local communities, that have sucked up energy, that have impacted local drinking water sources. We don’t want to make those mistakes in Australia.”

Allegra Spender has applauded the governemnt’s action on implementing an AI roadmap, but conceded the agenda should have come sooner.

Speaking to Nine’s Today ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech later on Wednesday to announce a new Office of AI, the teal-independent-turned Community Strong cofounder said the roadmap is a delayed step in the right direction.

“I wish they had done this earlier We don’t want to just be takers of technology from overseas, but there’s also a lot of concern out there, whether it be on data centres, whether it be on privacy, whether it be on protecting our kids,” she said.

“It is appropriate that the government takes this on more actively. If we try and hold back the tide, my nervousness is that Australian businesses will just be overtaken by overseas businesses, and then we will actually lose more jobs.”

The 6am AEST deadline set by Donald Trump and reaffirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM) has now passed, meaning the blockade of Iran ships leaving or bound for Iranian ports can be boarded or seized by US military forces.

CENTCOM reiterated the enforcement of the blockade in a post to social media.

“There are currently more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East,” it said on X.

“American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”

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The impact of artificial intelligence on society will be compared to the change brought by civil aviation 100 years ago as the prime minister unveils a new framework to deal with the fast-moving technology.

An Office of AI will be formed in the department of prime minister and cabinet, Anthony Albanese will announce in an address on Wednesday.

The new office will help co-ordinate the design of new Australian Standards and to bring together work across the government.

The speech comes in response to concerns surrounding rules governing the use of AI, data centres and protections for Australian intellectual property.

AI company Anthropic has sought clarification over copyright settings, but hasn’t reportedly sought an exemption.

The prime minister’s speech isn’t expected to detail changes to copyright laws.

- with AAP

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Donald Trump has abandoned plans to impose a 20 per cent levy on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead for trade agreements with Gulf States.

Speaking at the White House, the US President said the decision to reverse the levy followed calls with regional leaders, adding he doesn’t “like the concept of a fee.”

He later said the charge would be replaced by “Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making with the United States” after “highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership.”

Mr Trump also said Gulf investment in the United States would be “massive” but provided no further details.