Artificial Intelligence Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (14:37): I've got another question for the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres. Minister, OpenAI told the Joint Select Committee on AI that they would be providing Australia with red-level access to their Daybreak cyber program. When will Australia get this access, and how much will it cost us? Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:37): I can speak to that with some generality and then, if I can come back to you on the specific reference that you've made, I will and, if I can come back to the chamber, I will. This government has a world-leading approach here. It was the Albanese government and the Prime Minister himself who raised these issues directly with OpenAI and their CEO and raised them publicly on behalf of all Australians. It underscores the rationale for the position that the government has adopted. I think the work that the joint select committee has been undertaking over the last period has done that as well, and I'm grateful for the work that's happening across the parliament to make sure that we elevate these questions. There are issues here in relation to cybersecurity around artificial intelligence, but they are by no means the only issues in relation to safety and security, and the safety and security issues are by no means the only issues in terms of our future resilience and our future security. We're making sure that, through legislation here and in the House of Representatives, we deliver a clear legislative framework that makes sure that artificial intelligence investment here in Australia happens on Australia's terms in Australia's interests and we're lifting our capability for all of the economic and resilience reasons that have been outlined. The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, first supplementary? Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (14:40): I appreciate you coming back to the Senate with details. Given the Medicare breach, surely access to leading cybersecurity must be a priority for your government. Can you tell us at least a bit about something the taskforce is looking at? How don't you know when we have access to Daybreak? Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:40): Let's be clear about one element of that question for people who might have been listening to your question. The breach that happened of an Australian government database was serious and, in terms of the information, minor. And if somebody was listening to your question they might have inferred, when you said 'Medicare database', that there were somehow personal details—information that should be kept private—that were the subject of that breach. That is not the case. It in no way undermines the seriousness of the set of issues that sit underneath this. And making sure, as we've seen and expect to see— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, second supplementary? Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (14:41): On the one hand, you tell us that you're world leading. On the other hand, you can't even tell us if we have access to Daybreak or when we have access to Daybreak. The government is clearly now scrambling to put some safeguards in place. Why did the Albanese government shelve an AI safety act after the election? Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:42): It's certainly not the case that there is anything happening here but a very clear and very calm and effective response on behalf of Australia. Our AI Safety Institute is a world-leading part of a network of 10 AI safety institutes doing that work. And the approach that we are taking is about ensuring that we get the investment and the capability here, not just in our economic interest but also the interests of our security and our resilience. These tools are required— The PRESIDENT: Sorry. Senator Pocock? Senator David Pocock: It's just on relevance. I've let the last two questions go, but I'd love to know why the government shelved an AI safety act. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. The there were also other points to your question. The minister is being relevant. I'll listen carefully. Minister, please continue. Senator AYRES: What we're doing, Senator Pocock—we outlined Australia's artificial intelligence national plan last year. We set out standards for data centre investment, which have been signed up to by the major firms. (Time expired)