Albanese likens AI to renewable energy shift, unveils safety-first plan while copyright fixes stall

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will tell Sydney audiences that artificial intelligence represents an inflection point for society on a scale similar to the renewable energy transition, but he is not expected to announce concrete progress on copyright reforms aimed at protecting creative industries.

The speech is set to emphasize safety, compliance and community trust. Officials say the plan will focus on managing workforce shifts, defence implications and the energy-hungry rise of datacentres, while laying out principles to guide government action rather than a finished rulebook.

Newly released government documents show one major AI player, Anthropic, has flagged Australia’s policy uncertainty as a barrier to new investment. Briefings prepared for meetings with company executives warned ministers that clarity on copyright settings and liability to rights holders would be a condition for some investments.

Treasury and other departments recommended ministers encourage Anthropic to engage with rights holders and the attorney general’s office so creative and media industries can be fairly compensated if their material is used for AI training. Officials also noted that dealing with a long tail of smaller rights holders makes licensing more complicated than arranging deals with a few big companies.

Labor intends to take a more active role in shaping the sector, which could be worth billions, even as community debate about the local footprint of datacentres has grown elsewhere. Insiders compare the policy challenge to the arrival of social media, and say planning now is better than trying to catch up later.

Polling shows Australians are divided on AI: a substantial share sees it as risky, many view risk and opportunity as balanced, and a smaller group see clear net upside. That split helps explain why ministers are trying to stitch together guardrails and incentives without rushing into heavy-handed measures.

Several senior ministers, including the assistant minister for science and the industry minister, have driven the policy work, with health and other portfolios weighing in on data, privacy and safety concerns. The government has ruled out bringing AI companies into the existing News Bargaining Incentive, and officials stress creative industries will not be left behind as agreements and frameworks are developed.

Officials say they want enduring collaboration with AI firms while ensuring benefits flow to Australians and the economy. In short, technology may solve one problem and create three new ones, but the pitch from Canberra is to build a lifeboat now rather than wait for the next wave.