SA Unions welcome Royal Commission into AI as a chance for workers to have their voices heard

SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley said the State Government’s announcement of a Royal Commission into AI is a positive sign that South Australia isn’t following an American-style “let it rip” approach, where the benefits of AI flow to multinational companies and workers have no stake in the gains.

AI systems and algorithmic management tools are rapidly being introduced across South Australia, impacting how workers are monitored and assessed and changing the skills required to do the job.

Working South Australians are concerned about AI because, despite big promises, we have no guarantee that any benefits will be shared with workers. According to a recent Ipsos poll, 53 per cent of workers think AI will make the job market worse in the next 3 to 5 years. 45 per cent of workers think that AI is making them more replaceable.   

We’ve already seen big employers introduce AI without consultation or transparency and use it to cut jobs and undermine conditions. Handing decision-making power to AI has already seen workers faced with intensifying workloads, unrealistic performance metrics, intrusive surveillance, and discrimination in hiring and promotion. South Australian artists have already had their work stolen to train AI models.  

This Royal Commission is an opportunity to set fair safeguards which ensure AI delivers secure, well-paid, safe jobs, and workers have the skills and training to seize the opportunities technological change can bring.

Quotes attributable to SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley

“Every South Australian industry and workplace will be affected by AI, and unions have been calling for a coordinated policy response from Government for years. This Royal Commission will let South Australian workers have their voices heard, and we’ll be making sure we set fair guardrails which make sure technological change benefits everyone, not just big employers and multinational tech companies.” 

“South Australians are already facing workplaces where an algorithm decides your hours, how fast you should work, and whether you get promoted. We need to establish clear safeguards which protect workers from harm and ensure they share in the benefits of AI, instead of just bearing the costs.”