Australian news and politics live: Albanese and Macron phone call on Gaza crisis, EU trade progress, climate

The Australian Productivity Commission’s interim report, titled Harnessing Data and Digital Technology, highlights concerns that current copyright laws may be hindering the development and training of artificial intelligence models in the country.

The Commission suggests potential reforms, which might include amending the Copyright Act or introducing new policy measures to better enable the licensing of copyrighted materials. However, such changes could dilute the rights of creators and undermine their ability to receive proper remuneration for their work.

Creative Australia submitted strong opposition to these proposals, saying, “clear principles need to be applied to policy development to ensure the creative work that has been used to train generative AI systems is appropriately acknowledged”.

“The global nature of the technology industry has made it difficult for the owners of creative work to enforce their intellectual property rights and be remunerated for the use of their work.”

Despite these concerns, the Commission acknowledges AI’s enormous economic potential, projecting that AI could add more than $116 billion to Australia’s economy over the next decade, mainly through productivity gains.

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the decision to choose Japan for the $10 billion frigate agreement was not based on the relationship with the country.

“This is a decision purely based on what was the best capability for the Royal Australian Navy. But having made the decision, there’s no doubt that this is a very significant moment in our relationship with Japan,” Mr Marles told ABC Radio National on Wednesday morning.

“This is easily the biggest defence industry agreement that will exist between Australia and Japan, and so it is a very significant moment in the relationship.”

Australia continues to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, emphasising the urgency of ending violence and delivering humanitarian aid.

Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has spoken to Sunrise this morning, saying, “we need this conflict to end. We have called for an immediate ceasefire. I think it’s not only Australia putting this position forward.”

“We are seeing a huge human toll in Gaza, it really is time for this to end, for the hostages to be returned and for, particularly in Gaza, to have access to food and water,” she said.

When asked if Anthony Albanese is about to recognise a Palestinian state, Ms Rishworth responded: “The Prime Minister has been really clear that to recognise a Palestinian state it is when, not if. Of course we have been very clear that the terrorist organisation should play no role but we do need a pathway to peace,” she said.

The House Oversight Committee has issued nearly a dozen subpoenas to the Justice Department and high-profile Democratic and Republican figures for files and information related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a major move that comes as many congressional Republicans call for more transparency around the case.

The subpoena to the Justice Department calls for it to provide Congress any Epstein files in its possession, with victims’ names redacted. It also calls for communications between former Biden administration officials and the Justice Department related to the case.

Additionally, 10 individuals subpoenaed for closed-door depositions between August and October are: Former Attorneys General Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder and Alberto Gonzales; former FBI Director James Comey; former special counsel Robert Mueller III; former Secretary of State and first lady Hilary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton.

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More than 50,000 state school teachers across Queensland will strike on Wednesday over serious issues in state schools that the union says has led to a chronic teacher shortage and pay dispute.

It will be the first time in 16 years Queensland Teachers Union members stop work in response to claims the Crisafulli government has failed to acknowledge the “urgency of serious issues” affecting schools across the state.

The government says schools will remain open and students would be supervised.

QTU president Cresta Richardson said chronic teacher shortages had led to increased workloads and other serious issues, such as violence in schools, that required statewide attention.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held a significant phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron overnight, underscoring the strong bilateral relationship between Australia and France amid pressing global challenges.

“The leaders spoke about the crisis in Gaza and their ongoing commitment to getting aid to civilians. Both leaders discussed their longstanding support for a two state solution,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

“Further, the leaders discussed action on climate and France’s support for Australia’s joint bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of finalising the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.

“The leaders agreed to stay in close touch and meet again at the United Nations General Assembly in September.”