A new cross-party group of politicians is getting behind the local tech sector to understand the issues it faces has launched in Canberra.
The Parliamentary Friendship Group on Tech and Innovation is being co-chaired by Labor member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale, the Liberal member for Casey, Aaron Violi MP and Wentworth independent Allegra Spender, and has been welcomed by the Tech Council of Australia
The group ‘s intention is to make it easier for parliamentarians and industry to engage on economic and policy issues, as well as showcase the Australian companies and innovations to parliamentarians and provide a forum for industry and Parliamentarians to engage on topical issues.
The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) CEO Kate Pounder welcomed the group’s launch.
‘Tech is critical to creating new jobs and growth in Australia. It’s also impacting a range of policy issues that the Parliament must consider,” she said.
“We need to make sure that the Parliament and industry works together on these critical national issues. We’re thrilled to see such strong support for tech and innovation from representatives across the country.”
Pounder said she’s seen “a huge appetite” inside parliament to better understand technologies such as AI and how to enable them, while managing the risks involved.
“Positioning Australia at the global forefront of these cutting-edge technologies and getting to 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030 will require a united national approach and close collaboration with industry,” she said.
“Tech is contributing $167 billion annually to the national economy, and this is growing every day.”
The group met with the TCA and Business Council of Australia today for an AI briefing that including tech companies including Atlassian, Accenture, Cochlear, Google, Harrison.AI, SEEK and Xero.
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