The revolution Qld’s major party leaders didn’t want to talk about

Artificial intelligence could radically change the way Queensland works – but neither party leader has factored it into their plans for the next term of government.

How services are delivered and bureaucracy is organised will be turned on its head worldwide in the coming decade, according to experts including UNSW’s AI Institute chief scientist Toby Walsh.

“This is the biggest gold rush in the history of capitalism … I think government has more to gain from AI than any other sector of the economy,” he told Brisbane Times this week.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Premier Steven Miles are not factoring AI into their plans for the next four years. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli were asked how they planned to ensure Queensland maximised the benefits.

“Youth crime, health, housing and the cost of living have been a pretty big focus of mine, and they remain the battle lines for this election,” the LNP leader told reporters on Tuesday.

Miles cited the increasing use of machine learning in some sectors, including healthcare, but said AI would not be a priority for any re-elected Labor government.

“Our priorities have been addressing the cost of living and a long-term plan for our state’s future,” he said, before suggesting the LNP would use any productivity gains to cut jobs.

“The only thing Queensland public servants have to fear is David Crisafulli and an LNP government.

“I have a proud history of supporting our public service. I was an official at the public sector union for a very long time.”

Crisafulli has been at pains to rule out any job cuts, despite union claims they will again be on the LNP’s agenda.

Walsh said the leaders’ responses were “somewhat disappointing”.

“I think [Australian governments have] got a huge amount to gain, but [they] naturally tend to be very conservative, not have the expertise, and all those other things,” he said.

NSW has led Australian states on rolling out effective AI policy, Walsh said, adding the country was well behind others, including the UK, Canada, South Korea and India.

“It’s hard not to draw a comparison to other countries and our competitors, where governments have been much more keen to embrace AI than here.”

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