Australia risks repeating social media mistakes with AI in workplace: report
A new report warns Australia risks repeating its unregulated approach to social media by failing to establish a national strategy for AI in the workplace. Without intervention, unchecked AI could increase worker surveillance, unsafe workloads, and job insecurity. Experts are calling for a national AI task force, a review of the Fair Work Act, and mandatory human oversight. The federal government has begun assessing AI's impact on jobs and plans to convene a forum with employers and unions.
- ▪The John Curtin Research Centre report warns that unchecked AI in workplaces could worsen worker surveillance, job insecurity, and unsafe workloads.
- ▪Experts compare the lack of early AI regulation to the unregulated rise of social media, urging proactive guardrails to prevent harm.
- ▪The report recommends forming a national AI task force, reviewing the Fair Work Act, and establishing an AI advisory panel within the Fair Work Commission.
- ▪Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth says the government will convene a forum with employers and unions to discuss AI adoption in workplaces.
- ▪Legal experts note Australia lacks a unified law on AI in the workplace, creating a complex landscape across state and federal jurisdictions.
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Australia lacks national strategy to regulate AI spread in workplace, report statesBy national work reporter Bronwyn Herbert and the Specialist Reporting Team's Melanie VujkovicTopic:AI23m ago23 minutes agoTue 28 Apr 2026 at 7:11pmThe study warns unchecked AI could intensify worker surveillance, unsafe workloads and job insecurity. (ABC News)In short:Experts say Australia does "not have the luxury" of failing to regulate AI as it did with social media.A new report has called for a national AI task force and a review of the Fair Work Act.What's next?The federal government says it will meet with employers and unions today to examine the "key themes" in the adoption of AI in workplaces.abc.net.au/news/ai-workplace-regulation-federal-government/106611684Link copiedShareShare articleAustralia…
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