The Albanese Government has spent years watching from the sidelines as AI reshapes Australian workplaces, and today it has finally responded with a draft, non-binding, guide that employers are free to ignore.
While big corporations were in the room helping to draft the document, workers facing automated rostering, AI surveillance and job cuts haven't been given any enforceable rules or protections. As AI continues to be used by employers to get rid of entry level and other jobs, the Greens say Australians deserve enforceable rights at work, and a voluntary best practice guide falls well short of that.
As stated by Greens leader and AI Spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge:
"A voluntary guide is a choice the government has made to leave workers unprotected while employers decide for themselves which workers they replace with AI and the terms in which they are made redundant.
"Bosses looking to slash wages with AI won't be stopped by an optional best practice guide and Labor knows this. That's why they made this document, it doesn't even ruffle the feathers of their corporate donors.
"This is a classic Labor move responding to real concerns with an "announceable" that is never intended to substantively address those concerns.
"When the government talks about asking employers nicely to consult staff, what it is really saying is that a worker who loses their job to an algorithm will have no legal recourse at all.
"We have seen QANTAS, Canva, NAB and ANZ all firing Australian workers as part of offshoring and an AI rollout, it's clear the time for optional guidelines has passed.
"Sharing the benefits of AI through better pay and shorter hours is a good idea, and it is exactly why it needs to be written into law instead of left to the goodwill of employers.
"Australians need enforceable protections against AI surveillance at work, automated hiring and firing decisions, and bosses using algorithms to monitor and discipline staff.
"The Greens will push to turn these optional guidelines into binding rights, including a legal duty to consult, a right to a human review of any significant AI decision about your job, and real penalties for employers who break the rules."
As stated by Greens spokesperson for finance, workplace and employment and Senator for South Australia, Barbara Pocock:
"We're seeing workers across sectors losing their jobs to AI, or AI washing, and Labor is doing nothing to protect them.
"Workers across the country are fed up with the corporate greed of the 1%. Under Labor, they're facing job insecurity, AI-driven job cuts and inadequate wages that simply aren't keeping pace with inflation, rising living costs and the fuel crisis.
"AI is transforming our workplaces and economy but that's no excuse to let it run rampant. We cannot allow corporations to use AI to undermine workers' skills, destroy jobs and drive down conditions. Workers' rights and job security must come first.
"Workers must be included in the AI revolution. We must ensure that the productivity benefits gained from AI are actually shared with workers, not eaten up by profit.
"Working Australians deserve a fair share of the productivity gains from AI and new technology, not more job insecurity while billionaires and big corporations pocket the profits and wages fall behind.
"We need a stronger legislative framework for AI. The Greens want to amend the Fair Work Act to have the power to regulate the use of AI in Australian workplaces and to ensure that employers have a duty to protect employees against the harmful impacts of AI."
