China seeks to boost technology relationship with Australia
Mr Qian has seized on Labor's pledge to boost productivity, promoting economic ties between Beijing and Australia as a method to end the slump.
The move is expected to be a blow to the US in its tech and trade war with China, during a time of delicate relations between Australia and the United States.
Mr Albanese is expected to visit Beijing later this week.
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West Australian
20 minutes ago
- West Australian
Michaelia Cash: Anthony Albanese's Palestinian statehood push is a reward for terror
When Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, he claimed it was a 'practical contribution to peace'. It was nothing of the sort. It was a gift to Hamas, proof of which came just 48 hours later when Mr Albanese was praised by the terrorist group for his decision. When terrorists congratulate your foreign policy, you are doing something very wrong. The endorsement of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, co-founder of the terrorist group Hamas, of Mr Albanese's decision to recognise Palestine as a state should horrify all Australians. That's the same listed terrorist organisation responsible for the massacre of October 7, the kidnapping of hostages, and the ongoing rocket fire into Israel. You do not achieve peace by rewarding terrorists. All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter. Mr Albanese has been proven to be completely out of his depth on this vital foreign policy matter. He told Australians Hamas would reject his position to recognise a Palestinian state. The decision does not make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to the terrorist group Hamas. Mr Albanese's decision is effectively unconditional recognition. It will go ahead in September, no matter what. Recognition before the hostages are freed, before Hamas is defeated, and before any security guarantees are in place is not diplomacy. It is dangerous naivety. It hands Hamas one of the strategic objectives they sought when they unleashed their campaign of terror in 2023. Recognition should come at the end of a genuine peace process, not at its beginning. It should be the culmination of negotiations in which both sides make real compromises, leading to a secure Israel and a secure Palestine living side by side. That was the bipartisan consensus in this country for decades. By breaking from that cautious, measured approach, Mr Albanese has abandoned the position that recognition must be conditional on the renunciation of terrorism, the release of hostages, and the recognition of Israel's right to exist. If recognition is to mean anything, it must be tied to clear, enforceable conditions. Mr Albanese himself has said these include: no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state; full demilitarisation; recognition of Israel's right to exist in peace and security; free and fair elections; governance reform, financial transparency, and education oversight to prevent incitement to violence. But here's the problem: none of these conditions have been met. And worse still, Mr Albanese has given no timetable for when they must be. How will these conditions be enforced? What proof will be required? And if they are broken, will recognition be revoked, or will Labor simply turn a blind eye? These are basic questions any serious government would answer before making a major foreign policy decision. Mr Albanese has answered none of them. In truth, the Palestinian Authority, which Mr Albanese claims can deliver these guarantees, has a poor record of honouring its commitments. It has failed to comply with the Oslo Accords, continues to make payments to convicted terrorists and their families, and has not held proper elections in nearly 20 years. Worse, just last year, the Palestinian Authority signed the 2024 Beijing Declaration with Hamas, agreeing to form an interim unity government that would include Hamas, the very terrorists Labor now says will have 'no role' in a Palestinian state. Polling from the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research — based in Ramallah — shows about 40 per cent of Palestinians currently support Hamas. In Gaza, almost half still back them to govern. Recognising a Palestinian state now risks legitimising a terrorist organisation with significant public support, entrenching their power rather than isolating them. The US has been clear: it does not support unilateral recognition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that similar recognition by France actually caused talks with Hamas to collapse. Mr Albanese should also answer a simple question: what state is he recognising? A state with no agreed borders? No single government in control of its territory? No demonstrated capacity to live in peace with its neighbours? Australians want the war in Gaza to end. So do I. But that will not happen because of a symbolic gesture from Canberra. It will happen only when the conditions for peace are in place — and that means removing Hamas from the equation entirely. Until then, recognition is not just premature. It is reckless. And the Albanese Government's decision will be remembered as a political gesture that rewarded terror, weakened our alliances, and made lasting peace harder to achieve.
AU Financial Review
an hour ago
- AU Financial Review
Government to freeze housing code as part of red tape blitz
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has reaffirmed the government's intention to prohibit further adjustments to the National Construction Code to reduce compliance costs and building delays, as the government swings the focus of next week's economic summit away from tax towards red tape reduction and deregulation. O'Neil, who a week ago told The Australian Financial Review the code freeze was in play, despite Labor attacking the opposition for taking such a policy to the last election, said on Thursday her consultation with industry had driven a change in thinking.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
AI training pilot to upskill more than 30,000 teachers
More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030.
