The responsible adoption of robotics and automation technologies will be transformative for Australia. The recent, rapid advances in artificial intelligence are allowing robots to perform complex tasks and solve problems in almost every industry in collaboration with people. We are seeing more sophisticated and user-friendly robots being used in Australia, making robots more practical and efficient than ever.
From addressing national challenges such as labour shortages, improving productivity and revitalising our manufacturing capabilities to providing safer and more fulfilling opportunities for workers, robotics are a critical part of our future. It will enable extraordinary new innovations in everything from medical technologies to architecture.
That’s why this National Robotics Strategy is such a timely and important document. What makes it powerful is that it’s been forged and formed by the views, ideas, comments and concerns of many, many Australians. We consulted extensively across the country and engaged with leading minds in robotics, technology, industry, productivity, ethics, community and workplace issues.
Every submission we received was carefully addressed, every idea weighed, every concern considered, and every recommendation made with meticulous attention to the opportunities, the risks, the context and ultimately the benefits for Australia. On behalf of the Advisory Committee, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everybody who contributed to the strategy’s development.
Australia already has enormous capabilities in robotics and automation, a deep expertise and experience accrued over decades. This strategy celebrates that, including through diverse case studies that showcase Australia’s know-how, strengths and success in robotics and automation. The time to systematically and strategically build on this know-how and use the experiences of what we can learn from other countries and address the gaps and opportunities at home, is now.
It is critical for Australia’s future that we get this right. The National Robotics Strategy is about creating a clear and shared vision so that we can work at pace with what is a truly transformative technology.