Australia issues AI adoption guide, warning entry-level jobs come first

On November 12, 2026, Australia's workplace relations minister Amanda Rishworth released a best practice guide on AI adoption, according to a report from The Guardian. In launching the guide, she warned employers that entry-level positions will be the first to be automated as AI is introduced into workplace operations.

On the possible outcomes of that automation, Amanda Rishworth said the shift could bring shorter working hours and higher wages for ordinary workers, but it could also make jobs tougher, with increased burnout and more intensive workplace surveillance, leaving both paths on the table. The guide's release came after Qantas and Canva had already cut positions in restructuring efforts driven by AI-related changes. As of the report, the guidance has been published alongside these warnings, and the public discussion has so far stopped at that point, with the government setting out its recommendations while flagging the competing scenarios employers and workers may face as AI adoption advances.