South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a royal commission into artificial intelligence on Monday, saying the inquiry would begin in October and report no later than 1 July 2027, examining the impacts, risks, and opportunities of AI across education, industry, public health, and arts and culture. The announcement came after Malinauskas returned from a trip to the United States, where he met AI leaders and signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI.
Australian news roundup: AI royal commission, Sydney airport near-miss, ICAC hearings, and News Corp subscriber losses
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a royal commission into artificial intelligence on Monday, saying the inquiry would begin in October and report no later than 1 July 2027, examining the impacts, risks, and opportunities of AI across education, industry, public health, and arts and culture. The announcement came after Malinauskas returned from a trip to the United States, where he met AI leaders and signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI.
Shadow industry minister Andrew Hastie responded to the SA royal commission announcement by calling instead for a federal parliamentary committee on AI, saying the issue 'sits within the realm of the national parliament.' Hastie said such a committee should be tripartisan and take public submissions.
NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car asked the NSW Education Standards Authority to impose a ban on unsupervised take-home assessments while a broader review of AI's impact on student learning is conducted.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King met with Air Services Australia following a reported near-miss between two aircraft at Sydney Airport on Sunday. King had previously described herself as 'not happy' about the incident. NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was cautiously optimistic about the opening of the state's second airport — Western Sydney International Airport — in October, and said the incident had highlighted a need to recruit and train more air traffic controllers.
The Department of Defence confirmed it was aware of reports that multiple drones were operating near RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Labor would agree to amend its gambling legislation, with commitments covering inducements, advertising targeting, and children's exposure to gambling ads.
The federal government announced that the bulk billing rate across Australia had risen to 84 percent, described as an increase of nearly five percentage points compared with the previous year.
At the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption's Operation Rosny, witness Jeremy Greenwood — named in two of ICAC's allegations — was questioned about registered lobbying company Beckington, which he co-founded with Christian Ellis. Beckington is alleged to have issued fake invoices for consulting advice, with payments said to have gone toward factional Liberal work. Greenwood was also asked about an arrangement in which a third person's wife was invoiced for education consultancy services in lieu of the person directly. Greenwood said he could not recall what work underpinned a $16,000 invoice issued before Beckington was formally established. Key witnesses Ellis and another individual named during questioning are both overseas and are not expected to give evidence.
Victorian Education Minister Gabrielle Williams put forward a revised pay offer to resolve an ongoing dispute with public school teachers. The new offer builds on a previously proposed 28.3 percent pay increase over four years by adding a $2,000 good faith payment for all teachers, workload management protections, and expanded pay increases for education support staff. Members are scheduled to vote on the offer early the following week; a strike had been planned for 19 August.
Health Minister Mark Butler told the Labor caucus that procedural votes on private member's bills related to voluntary assisted dying via telehealth would constitute a binding party position. A conscience vote would only be permitted when Labor introduces its own bill, which Butler indicated would not be imminent.
Police confirmed that an item found in a suitcase near Goulburn was not human remains but a lifelike doll with markings resembling bruises and grazes.
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told a public inquiry that Australia's commitment to the AUKUS submarine deal was, in his words, 'stark staring bonkers,' arguing the arrangement with the US and UK would likely result in Australia receiving no submarines.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek defended Prime Minister Albanese's comments made during a podcast appearance, following criticism from the former Japanese ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami, who reportedly described the comments as 'appalling' and 'insulting.' The source does not detail what the comments were.
News Corp's Australian mastheads recorded paid subscriber declines at four of its five main titles over the preceding 12 months. The Daily Telegraph fell from 151,335 to 140,808 paid subscribers, and the Herald Sun from 153,983 to 148,753. The Courier Mail and the Advertiser also recorded falls. The Australian was the exception, rising from 335,903 to 341,975. The company had previously reported a slide in digital subscriptions across its Australian titles.
Music festival Laneway announced it would not hold events in Adelaide or Perth the following year.
- The source does not detail what Prime Minister Albanese said on the podcast that drew criticism from the former Japanese ambassador.
- The source does not include a response from Air Services Australia to the transport minister's meeting or criticism.
- The source does not include a response from teachers' union representatives to the Victorian government's revised pay offer.
- The source does not explain the specific nature of the work Beckington was invoiced to perform for Catholic Schools NSW.
- The source does not state the identity, current whereabouts, or status of all individuals named in ICAC allegations beyond those described.
- The source does not provide detail on what specific AI regulations or frameworks the SA royal commission may consider adopting.
- The source does not state what the Greens and independent MP Kate Chaney's telehealth voluntary assisted dying bill would specifically require.
- The source does not identify which Labor MP raised the conscience vote question in caucus.
- The source does not confirm whether Jeremy Greenwood's wife gave birth or whether it affected his scheduled appearance the following day.
Read the original at The Guardian