Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered his first major speech on artificial intelligence at the University of Sydney, days before his Labor Party’s national conference. He sought to reassure a nervous public and party members that the government is managing AI’s risks while seizing its potential. Referencing the Vatican’s recent encyclical on AI as a moral challenge, Albanese argued Australia could again lead the world, as it did with Medicare and social media restrictions for minors, by establishing a regulatory benchmark that influences global approaches. He announced plans to introduce legislation in early 2025 for large AI data centers, including a requirement that they be net generators of electricity, and to create a new policy office. The speech drew praise from both unions seeking tougher rules and businesses favoring a lighter touch.