Australian lawmakers clash over potential AI copyright exemptions for tech companies

David Pocock urges Albanese to stop tech companies training AI models using Australian content

Independent senator says Anthony Albanese is preparing to announce an AI copyright plan in July Independent David Pocock has challenged the Albanese government to rule out letting technology giants use Australian content to train AI models, as cabinet considers proposals to change copyright rules for the rapidly developing technology. Pocock used Senate question time on Tuesday to ask the government about intense lobbying from AI proprietors over possible new rules and regulations for Australian-made content - including suggestions Labor would create a new "carve out" or extend existing licensing arrangements. Guardian Australia has been told competing cabinet submissions about the plan are in train, with the department of industry, science and resources and the attorney-general's department split over the best approach. Ministers could choose between establishing new exemptions from copyright rules, in exchange for greater investment in Australian hosted data centres, or a possible licensing extension to cover AI model developments. Under that proposal, AI companies could use Australian content to train their commercial products. A new fund for creative industries could also be established as part of the package. Pocock said he had been provided information showing Anthony Albanese was preparing to announce a plan on or around 15 July, potentially offering expedited approvals and investment for new data centres. But the industry minister, Tim Ayres, accused Pocock of being reckless in airing the questions publicly in an ABC radio interview on Monday and in parliament on Tuesday. Ayres said the government would not permit "undermining of copyright protections" as it considers possible new regulations for AI, and praised the assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy, Andrew Charlton, for his handling of AI policy. "It is absolutely our intention to do what we can to make sure that people who produce content in Australia, who are currently getting ripped off all around the world ... we are looking at that question." He told the Senate it was in Australia's national interest to have Australian sovereign capability in technology, particularly where there was competitive advantage. "It is not this government's view that we should just be a cork bobbing on the ocean of other people's technology and a customer at the long end of technology supply chains that is not in our interest," he said. "It sells out future generations." Pocock challenged Ayres about the possible models being considered by the government but the debate was interrupted as the Senate president, Sue Lines, struggled to control the debate. He later told the Senate that Ayres had not ruled out the possible moves on AI regulation. "The minister accused me of reckless speculation, but, rather curiously, could not simply rule out the speculation," he said. On Tuesday, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for a a moratorium on the building and approval of new data centres in Australia until "we get the regulations right". "We are sleep walking into an AI crisis. Until Australia's laws are up to the task of regulating the big tech bros and their power-hungry data centres, they should not be given the greenlight to drain our power and water," Hanson-Young, the chair of a parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres, said. "Until we have proper regulations for the use of energy and precious water and proper protections for Australian artists and businesses we cannot allow a tech bro free for all. Until the necessary safeguards are in place and Australia's resources are protected, approval and development must be paused." The former industry minister Ed Husic had argued for new AI guardrails and consideration of a major new act, but he was dumped from cabinet in 2025. Ayres, his successor in the portfolio, is in favour of a lighter touch approach. A spokesperson for Ayres told Guardian Australia that Pocock's claims were incorrect. "That is inaccurate," they said. "The government has ruled out a text and data mining exception. Our position has not changed."

'We will not stand for it': Coalition warns of 'fight' over any Labor plan to allow an AI copyright law carve-out

Any plan to allow AI companies to train on Australian intellectual property will face staunch opposition from the Coalition, a leading senator says. The government is seriously considering carving out AI from copyright laws, Senator David Pocock alleged this week, as Industry Minister Tim Ayres accused him of "reckless speculation". Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said any amendments to Australia's "very significant" copyright protections would face fierce scrutiny. "If... (the government) is trying to do some sleazy deal, and there is some suggestion that that might be happening, boy, oh boy, have they got a fight coming, because we will not stand for it," she told Sky News host Chris Kenny on Tuesday. "We are here to protect the rights of Australians and that includes the rights of musicians and artists and writers and journalists, protection of their own intellectual property work." The former ABC journalist and IP lawyer said she believed the government was considering consequential IP law tweaks. "We put the government under a lot of pressure through a Senate Inquiry last year when they were trying to do a very sneaky deal to sell off the intellectual property rights of creatives," she said. "They crawled back from that position". "They're now saying they're doing nothing, but I just simply don't believe them because we've got the big AI platforms, the foreign AI platforms running around trying to do deals and do everything to sell off the intellectual property rights of Australian creatives. "We will not tolerate it under any circumstances, and as I say, we will fight this every step of the way." Mr Pocock in Question Time on Tuesday asked Mr Ayres to rule out any impending changes allowing AI companies to use Australians' work. "Is it still the case that the government has no plans to allow AI companies to mine Australian creatives' data, either via some form of carve-out, an extension to the licensing system or other means?" he asked. He further asked if the government was considering proposals tied to an arts fund, multi-billion-dollar data centre investment and fast-tracked approvals. Mr Pocock additionally asked if that claim was correct and whether the PM was planning to announce any such plan around, or on, July 15. Mr Ayres told the Senate the government was not planning on undermining protections, adding it was in the national interest to "secure as much of the technology stack" as Australia could. "It is not this government's view that we should just be a cork bobbing on the ocean of other people's technology, and a customer at the long end of technology supply chains," he said. He had also on Monday accused the ACT Senator of "reckless speculation" in a radio interview, according to the ABC. Mr Pocock later returned to the Upper House to claim Mr Ayre's response did not rule out his whistleblower's claims. "The minister accused me of reckless speculation, but, rather curiously, could not simply rule out the speculation," he said.