Overview

• Atlassian confirmed on July 30 that it cut 150 positions and plans to deploy AI technologies to fill those roles.
• Farquhar likened the rise of AI to electrification, describing it as “mysterious and dangerous” and warning of significant workforce changes.
• He warned that delays in policy reform could jeopardize Australia’s ability to realize the projected AI-driven economic gains by 2030.
• Farquhar urged the government to launch fast-track digital apprenticeships to help displaced workers transition into new AI-driven jobs.
• He also called for copyright reforms to allow text and data mining and for expanded data-centre capacity ahead of an August AI economic roundtable.