The federal government is signalling a stronger approach to tackling risks posed by artificial intelligence, with Assistant Technology Minister Andrew Charlton flagging "new powers and tougher enforcement" are on Labor's agenda to bolster AI safety in Australia.Next week, the prime minister is expected to outline the government's approach to the technology in a speech.But a leading AI researcher, along with independent MP Kate Chaney, say the time for talk is over. More InformationFeatured:Andrew Charlton, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital EconomyAnthony Albanese, Prime MinisterKate Chaney, independent MP for CurtinToby Walsh, Chief Scientist at UNSW's AI Institute CreditsLexie Jeuniewic, ReporterImage DetailsThe federal government is signalling a stronger approach to tackling risks posed by artificial intelligence.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)Program:More from AMTranscriptMelissa Clarke: The federal government is signalling a stronger approach to managing risk posed by artificial intelligence, flagging new powers and tougher enforcement are on Labor's agenda. But a growing number of voices say the time for talk is over and action on AI policy is needed now. Political reporter Lexi Jeuniwic has more.Lexie Jeuniewic : AI's role in Australia's present is rapidly expanding and is only set to get bigger in the future. With that comes risks on multiple fronts, according to Australia's Assistant Technology Minister.Andrew Charlton : The Australian government is working across two horizons in our approach to AI safety. The first horizon is the near term, the everyday ground level reality of AI safety. The second horizon includes the frontier, high impact, structurally novel risks that don't just cause harm in the way we already understand them, but change the categories we use to think about technology harms altogether.Lexie Jeuniewic : Andrew Charlton has told an AI safety forum in Sydney a major tool in combating risks is Australia's AI Safety Institute, which became fully operational earlier this year, along with what he's labelled a whole of government approach to AI regulation.Andrew Charlton : In the Albanese government, AI safety will be pursued through every relevant agency and regulator, backed by laws that already exist and are strengthened where they need to be by new powers and tougher enforcement.Lexie Jeuniewic : Mr Charlton's speech comes after the Prime Minister told the NSW Labor Conference if it acts now, Australia can set the ground rules for AI. We can shape the future, not let the future shape us. Next week, Mr Albanese is expected to deliver a speech that will set out the government's approach to AI and outline a broad position on issues including workforce disruption, copyright and the use of water and electricity resources to power data centres. But independent MP for Curtin, Kate Chaney, argues the federal government is still taking a passive approach to AI policy.Kate Chaney: The government is not moving at the speed we need for a technology with such far-reaching impacts. It's really taken a hands-off approach.Lexie Jeuniewic : Announcing its National AI Plan last year, the government opted against a standalone AI Act, instead choosing to use existing legal frameworks to mitigate AI-related risks.Toby Walsh: I certainly think the existing law is not going to be adequate.Lexie Jeuniewic : Toby Walsh is the Chief Scientist at the University of NSW's AI Institute.Toby Walsh: Whether we can bundle it up in one big AI Act or whether we need special legislation, we're going to see hopefully a digital duty of care that's going to perhaps cover some of the new harms coming the way. I don't mind whether they put it into one big Act or put it into lots of small pieces of legislation, but I do think we need new law.Lexie Jeuniewic : Kate Chaney doesn't think the answer is a single AI Act. She's made 18 policy recommendations in her recently released AI Discussion Paper and agrees establishing a digital duty of care, which the government has pledged to legislate, should be among top priorities. Appears In US Iran ceasefire under further strainDuration: 20 minutes 2 seconds20m 7itemsIn this episode1 of 7US-Iran ceasefire under further pressure of collapsingDuration: 2 minutes 53 seconds2m 53s2 of 7Australia to supply uranium to India Duration: 3 minutes 38 seconds3m 38s3 of 7Indian PM ambitious to grow Indian economyDuration: 3 minutes 8 seconds3m 8s4 of 7Death during Telstra outage under investigationDuration: 2 minutes 57 seconds2m 57s5 of 7PlayingLabor signals stronger approach to AI risksDuration: 3 minutes 11 seconds3m 11s6 of 7Bonnie Tyler dies at 75Duration: 3 minutes 16 seconds3m 16s7 of 7Neil the seal departs favorite beachfrontDuration: 3 minutes 45 seconds3m 45s