Barnaby Joyce has issued a dark warning to Aussies about how artificial intelligence will take their jobs.
The Australian Services Union announced on Monday its intention to file a submission with the Fair Work Commission advocating for remote work, wherever feasible.
Union secretary Emeline Gaske highlighted, ‘Remote work has become an integral aspect of the contemporary Australian work environment, and our submission aims to affirm that the place of work does not undermine its significance.’
The union is calling for employees to be given six months’ notice if the employer wants them to return to the office.
But Joyce described this demand as ‘an absurdity,’ warning that opting to WFH would make it easier for an employer to replace you.
‘You can’t just say you’re going to work from home today, or you won’t have a job,’ the Nationals MP and former Deputy Prime Minister told Sunrise.
‘I think you’ve got to be careful. With AI coming: if your job is a keyboard, yourself, and a computer, it’s not a myth: AI is coming.’
He added: ‘AI is going to come into the clerical work and just remove jobs left, right, and centre.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has issued a dark warning to Aussies about how artificial intelligence will take their jobs
‘Retaining your positions is crucial, as the ability to work remotely could lead to offices considering AI replacements,’ she noted.
Joyce pointed to trades work, such and electricians and plumbers.
She further commented, ‘AI cannot transform into a plumber, electrician, or carpenter, which means trade skills continue to offer stable employment opportunities.’
‘It… replaces people but it doesn’t have hands and it doesn’t have feet – think about it.’
Meanwhile, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said repetitive jobs were most under threat from AI.
‘What we need to do is make sure that there are good jobs available for Australians in new and emerging industries as well,’ she said.
‘We’ve got real capacity to develop some of those AI tools right here.’
Over 6.7 million Australians WFH, representing 46 per cent of employed people, according to new research from Roy Morgan.
Over 6.7 million Australians WFH, representing 46 per cent of employed people, according to new research from Roy Morga
The remaining 54 per cent work entirely in-person.
Research conducted by Victoria University, based on International Labour Organization indices, suggests that nearly a third of Australian jobs could potentially be performed by AI.
However, the jury is still out on how quickly some of these jobs will be replaced.
Most at risk are roles involving clerical tasks, such as data entry or book-keeping, according to a recent report by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA).
Meanwhile, those industries least likely to be affected included cleaning, hospitality and the trades.
Barney Glover, the JSA’s commissioner, insisted that while bleak predictions of mass redundancies were overstated, every job would be affected by AI.
‘The overarching message is that almost all occupations will be augmented by AI,’ he said.
‘It doesn’t make a difference which sector you are in, or at what skill level: you will be influenced by AI.’
The use and application of AI is likely to be a hot topic at the federal government’s productivity roundtable beginning in Canberra on Tuesday.
