Feedback wanted: Parliament launches inquiry into digital transformation of workplace

Committee looking into impact of automated decision-making, machine learning techniques

BY Dexter Tilo 10 Apr 2024

The House of Representatives has launched an inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces due to rapid uptake of automated decision-making and machine learning techniques.

The Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training wants feedback on the matter from employers, employees, software developers and providers, academics, employer groups, as well as trade unions.

"The committee wants to understand what these changes mean for employees and employers, our workplaces and the way we regulate and govern our employment practices," said committee chair Lisa Chesters in a statement.

Committee's interests

The committee is particularly interested to hear about the benefits of automated decision-making and machine learning techniques when it comes to productivity, skills, development, career progression, and job creation.

It also wants to know about the risks, opportunities, and consequences for the nature of work, including effects on hiring, rostering, work intensity, job design, wage setting, monitoring, surveillance, and job quality.

Other related matters that the committee is taking an interest in include:

The role of business software and regulatory technology in improving regulatory compliance in the workplace relations system, including their use by regulators, and accountability for errors resulting in non-compliance
The effects of these techniques on the scope of managerial prerogative, labour rights, ability for workers to organise, procedural fairness, equality, discrimination, and dignity at work
Appropriate safeguards or regulatory interventions to guide responsible implementation in the workplace, including the digital skills and resources necessary for employers to appropriately utilise these technologies.
The effects on gender equality, job security, small businesses, Closing the Gap and disadvantaged and vulnerable cohorts of workers.

Those interested in filing a submission can do so until June 21, according to the committee.

The inquiry follows the referral made by Employment Minister Tony Burke, and after the committee's recent review on technology's impact on the education system.

"Following the committee's recent work on generative artificial intelligence in the Australian education system, the committee is now turning its attention to examining the intersection between advanced digital technology and the labour market," Chesters said.