The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training tabled its 'The Future of Work' report today following its inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 11 February 2025

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training tabled its The Future of Work report today following its inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces. Committee Chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, said, ‘The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision making (ADM) is significantly shaping workplaces across sectors, impacting employers, staff, regulators and the community.’ ‘While AI and ADM can create opportunities for workplaces such as increased productivity and efficiency, and job creation and augmentation, these benefits need to be shared between employers and workers,’ Ms Chesters said. The Committee’s inquiry found that the digital transformation has exposed significant challenges. This includes gaps in Australia’s regulatory frameworks and workplace protections, and a very concerning and excessive use of technology-enabled surveillance and data-collection by employers. The report emphasises the need for Australia to adopt measures for the safe and responsible development and deployment of these technologies across workplaces. The Committee’s twenty-one recommendations focus on: maximising the benefits of AI and ADM in the workplace clarifying obligations of technology developers and employers enhancing consultation, and privacy and data protections for workers improving public trust in these technologies strengthening Australia’s workforce and capabilities. Ms Chesters said, ‘To help future-proof Australia and its place in an increasingly competitive and digital world, it is essential to have the right frameworks and support in place.’ Australia needs a robust approach, capturing all Australian workplaces and workers. Updates to the Fair Work Act and Privacy Law Act are necessary steps, as well as broader AI reform. The full report of the inquiry can be found on the Committee’s inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Kate Sutherland, Office and Parliamentary Program Manager kate.surtherland@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The rapid uptake of automated decision making and machine learning in the workplace is the focus of a new inquiry launched today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 9 April 2024

The rapid uptake of automated decision making and machine learning in the workplace is the focus of a new inquiry launched today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training.  The Committee would like to hear directly from workers, employers, software developers and providers, academics, employer groups and trade unions about the digital transformation of workplaces that is currently taking place across Australia. Chair of the Committee Lisa Chesters MP said ‘following the Committee’s recent work on generative artificial intelligence in the Australian education system, the Committee is now turning its attention to examining the intersection between advanced digital technology and the labour market’. ‘Australian workplaces are changing the way they operate,’ Ms Chesters said. ‘The Committee wants to understand what these changes mean for employees and employers, our workplaces and the way we regulate and govern our employment practices’.  Of particular interest to the Committee are the benefits and risks of automated decision making and machine learning in the context of work, the role of business software and regulatory technology companies, and how to ensure the safe and responsible use of these technologies. The Committee welcomes submissions from interested individuals and organisations by Friday 21 June 2024. More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Korey Fernando, Media Adviser Korey.Fernando@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.