ACTU, ASU Call on Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth to Put AI Safeguards in Place
The Australian Financial Review
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 28 Apr 2026
- Priority Score
- 2
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 28 Apr 2026, 10:00 am
Description
On the eve of the government’s first forum on AI, labour groups have demanded ‘immediate’ regulation ‘before the horse has bolted’.
Summary
Labor groups and white-collar unions are pressuring the Australian government to implement immediate regulatory safeguards for AI, challenging official findings regarding job displacement risks. The push for regulation aims to establish a preventative legal framework before the technology's integration into the workforce becomes irreversible. While primarily focused on economic and labor security, the demands reflect broader governance concerns regarding the rapid deployment of systemic AI capabilities without robust oversight. These developments indicate an escalation in Australian domestic policy debates over the socio-economic stability risks posed by frontier technology.
Body
Work & CareersWorkplaceWorkforce SummitPrint articleDavid Marin-GuzmanWorkplace correspondentApr 28, 2026 – 6.09pmWhite-collar unions have clashed with the Albanese government ahead of a key meeting, contesting findings that AI is not leading to job losses and calling for immediate regulation of the technology “before the horse has bolted”.The ACTU will meet with Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth and business groups on Wednesday in the first ministerial meeting of the new AI forum that will discuss a path to ensure laws are fit to deal with the technology.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreWorkforce SummitIndustrial relationsAIAFR LiveFetching latest articles