Discontent is mounting among artists and creative workers in the Sydney electorate of Grayndler as the federal government advances plans to permit artificial intelligence companies to use Australian-created online content for training without explicit permission. Grayndler, represented by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is a hub for cultural and creative industries, with more than 3,000 businesses and a workforce where 10% are employed in these fields—more than double the national average.
The government’s proposed reforms, part of a broader package addressing AI, data centres, energy, and economic policy, could grant AI firms default access to Australian artists’ work online. Some industry voices oppose such plans, warning that allowing AI companies to scrape creative content without consent risks exploiting creators by undermining copyright protections. Albanese has pledged “the strongest possible protection” for artists, framing uncompensated use of their work as “theft,” but these assurances have done little to quell unease within his electorate.
Among the most vocal critics is Pete Strong, a screenprinter and Greens councillor who runs a small business in Grayndler. He described the AI sector as an “extraction industry mining for profit for the few” and expressed firm opposition to the government’s approach. Strong, who curated an exhibition titled “overthrow the algorithm” and has campaigned against a proposed data centre in the Sydney suburb of Cooks Cove, said many local artists share his frustration amid what he called an “AI gold rush.”
The debate intensified following reports that AI firms like OpenAI met with Labor ministers to argue that Australia’s current copyright framework restricts their ability to train models domestically. Some companies have advocated for an “opt-out” system, where content is scraped by default unless creators explicitly object, prompting concerns that such a policy effectively amounts to a government-sanctioned appropriation of intellectual property.
Some creatives acknowledge AI’s potential benefits but reject the government’s default scraping model. Artist and designer Lu Campbell-Smith said the opt-out approach is “outrageous” and reduces Australia to a “test market” exploited for its content without adequate safeguards. “Why would anyone want to make anything and post anything online if... you’re creating free content for an AI machine?” she asked.
Grayndler has remained a stronghold for Albanese—who has held the seat comfortably for over 30 years and regularly wins with a majority of first-preference votes—but signs of political vulnerability are emerging. At the next federal election, Albanese will face an independent challenge from 28-year-old Hannah Ferguson, co-founder of Cheek Media, who is campaigning on concerns including the AI proposals. Recent polling shows Albanese’s disapproval rating at 56%, tying the highest level since he took office.
Within artist-led spaces such as Tortuga Studios in St Peters, apprehension about the reforms is pronounced. H Morgan-Harris, an author and curator directing the space, warned the changes could “decimate” Australia’s creative ecosystem. Citing already significant impacts of AI on the copywriting industry, she described the government’s proposals as undermining the societal and cultural value of artistic work.
Jason Zoidberg, co-founder of Monster Mouse Studios in Marrickville, said AI has already taken advantage of artists’ collective labour “without consequence,” calling it “utterly crazy” that the government is considering formalising such practices. He characterised the situation as contradictory and dangerous, with official policy inviting AI companies to exploit Australian creative content under the guise of investment and innovation.
Federal legislation concerning AI and copyright reform is expected to be introduced by the end of this year, with parliamentary debate anticipated to occur in 2027. As the government pushes forward, creatives in Albanese’s own electorate remain deeply concerned about the future of their work and livelihoods in the AI era.