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Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Bran Black calls for regulatory intervention to give Australia 'fair shot' against growth of AI amid copyright row
The federal government should be seeking to strike a balance between the use of AI and protecting existing copyright laws through appropriate regulation, the chief executive of the Australian Business Council has told Sky News. Bran Black was commenting on what technology firms have referred to as the tech and data mining exception, whereby data is harvested by artificial intelligence models without fair recognition and recompense for creators. The news that this was being considered by the government, ahead of the planned Productivity Roundtable in Canberra next week, has angered the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which represents professionals in the creative sectors including journalists. Speaking to Sky News Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert, Mr Black said the federal government was trying to walk a delicate line, by embracing artificial intelligence while also upholding existing copyright laws. 'Going into this round table, the key issues that are on I think everybody's lips with respect to AI really go to the type of regulatory oversight with respect to the introduction of the technology more broadly within businesses,' Mr Black said. He suggested there may need to be an amendment to the Fair Work Act to add in a proposed regulatory framework for artificial intelligence to ensure Australia had a fair shot in the competitive race. '(A key issue) is the extent to which it is argued there is a need for regulatory intervention in the AI space in terms of workplace relations and the Fair Work Act. And in both of those key areas our position is very clear,' he said. '..We need to make sure that we're not rushing to legislate when we haven't found a gap in the legislation. We also need to make sure Australia can preserve its capacity to retain a competitive edge, to attract investment into the country. 'To make sure that we can be and we have every opportunity be a world leader in AI development.' But he conceded that there were also concerns about copyrighted content and who possessed the rights to such content. 'It's an important question because it goes to, it's an importance balance that you need to strike,' he said. 'On the one hand, you want to make sure that you do preserve the rights and the interests of creators so that they can continue," Mr Black said. 'To be creative. That's one of those things that helps drive our economy and indeed our society. 'On the other hand, we see that AI has enormous potential and it's got the capacity to change the way we do business to make us more productive and to improve our living standards.' In a statement published on Tuesday, MEAA chief executive Erin Madeley said that she was concerned by reports that the government would walk away from strengthening copyright laws on protecting the rights of creative content. 'Creative and media workers bring enormous experience, skill, and dedication to their work, entertaining and informing their audiences,' before adding that creative industries generate $60billion to the economy," she said, 'All of this is exposed to being displaced by AI if unchecked.' 'In the absence of AI-specific legislation or regulation, creative and media workers have had their work systematically scraped and stolen to train the large language models developed by the Big Tech companies that now dominate the AI industry.' The productivity summit will begin on Monday in Parliament House.
Middle East Eye
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Australian journalists' union condemns targeted killing of Gaza journalists
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has released a statement condemning the targeted killing of the five Palestinian media workers and the killing of nearly 200 others "as a war crime." The organisation called Israel's accusation of working journalists as terrorists a "baseless smearing," saying that the assassinated journalist Anas al-Sharif's 'reports brought to the world the reality of the horrors being inflicted by the Israeli Government on the civilians in Gaza.' The statement also pointed out that the Israeli military "shockingly" used a target emoji on the social media post confirming the targeted killing of the journalists. 'The targeting of journalists is a blatant attack on press freedom, and it is also a war crime,' MEAA said. 'It must stop.'
7NEWS
06-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Trump's blockbuster tariffs threaten Queensland's booming film industry
US President Donald Trump's move to slap a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made films has sent shockwaves through Queensland's booming screen sector — putting hundreds of millions in investment, thousands of local jobs, and Australia's 'Hollywood 2.0' reputation at risk. In a move aimed at 'saving Hollywood,' Trump announced he would target films produced overseas, claiming foreign governments were luring productions away with lucrative incentives. 'Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, are being devastated,' Trump posted on social media. 'The industry is dying a very fast death.' Trump has taken aim at the government-backed incentives used to lure major productions Down Under — calling them a national security threat. 'They're given a lot of things, and the industry was decimated. If you look at how little is done in this country now, you think we were the ones – we used to do 100 – not long ago – 100 percent. 'Now we do almost, like, very little. It's shocking.' Gold Coast in the firing line For the Gold Coast — home to some of the world's biggest blockbusters like The Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Thor: Ragnarok — the announcement has triggered real concern. 'It really is a kick in the guts for our film industry,' said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. 'We've spent millions building world-class facilities, and now we're being punished for doing it well.' Queensland's screen sector has exploded in the past decade — with over $600 million pouring into the state economy each year, and more than 6000 people employed across production, post-production, and support services, Tate said. New studios have sprung up across the state, helping cement 'Goldywood' as a go-to destination for international shoots. Just this week, Hollywood star Owen Wilson was spotted filming Rush, a major new thriller, on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. But as uncertainty over Trump's tariffs grows, local leaders fear the momentum could stall. Government and industry vow to fight back Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government would raise concerns directly with Washington. 'We obviously will be pressing our view about this to the US administration,' Wong said on Sunrise. 'It would be great if the United States and Australia could find a way to work together, because ultimately both countries do benefit from these huge blockbuster films.' Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek has called on the federal government to step in. 'We've built this industry from the ground up,' Langbroek said. 'We need to defend it.' Advocates have pushed back, too, arguing that strong collaboration between US studios and local crews has helped both countries thrive. Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said the news 'will send shockwaves worldwide,' while the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) stressed the importance of protecting both foreign investment and homegrown storytelling. 'What is clear,' MEAA stated, 'is that we need strong local content quotas on streaming platforms to strengthen our own industry, stories, and jobs.' Tate said it was unclear how exactly the tariffs would be applied — whether based on filming location, post-production, or budget thresholds — but warned the messaging alone was damaging. 'It says 'Don't film outside the USA', despite Australia being one of their closest allies,' he said. 'We're not competitors, we're partners.' He added the impact would be hardest felt by the next generation. 'The big-name stars will be fine. 'It's the up-and-coming talent — our local crews, designers, technicians — they're the ones most vulnerable if work dries up.' He warned that private investment could be at risk. 'We won't pause our long-term vision, but if the private sector pulls back, we won't throw more money in just to keep up appearances.' For now, productions on the Gold Coast appear to be continuing as planned — although some may be fast-tracking completion before the tariffs take effect. Looking beyond Hollywood With the future of US-Australia film deals in question, some industry figures are already exploring new markets. Tate confirmed early talks with Bollywood producers are underway. 'Their industry is growing fast,' he said. He's committed to putting Australia — and especially Queensland — on their radar as the next global production hotspot. 'Maybe it's time we tailored scripts for South-East Asian markets or set more stories in places like Bali — broaden our storytelling, tweak our humour for different audiences.' With world-class studios, diverse locations, and incentives already in place, from India, South Korea and China. Industry leaders say diversifying partners will not just soften the blow — it could future-proof Australia's screen industry for the years ahead.
