Australia news: AI concerns prompt school assessment review; airport near-miss; bulk billing rate increases

In New South Wales, Australia, the deputy premier Prue Car has requested an urgent review of artificial intelligence's impact on student learning, proposing a moratorium on unsupervised take-home assessments. Car expressed concern that AI could undermine students' thinking, creativity, and hard work, potentially compromising the integrity of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) assessments, which significantly contribute to final results.

"Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support teaching and learning, but it should never replace the thinking, creativity, and hard work that education is designed to develop," Car stated. She emphasized that schooling aims to build knowledge and critical thinking over time, warning that reliance on AI could erode this process. Any interim changes to assessment policies would be considered for implementation at the start of the fourth term, pending advice from the NSW Education Standards Authority (Nesa).

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Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support teaching and learning, but it should never replace the thinking, creativity, and hard work that education is designed to develop.

Meanwhile, federal transport minister Catherine King is seeking a way forward after two aircraft, a Jetstar and a Qatar Airways plane, were involved in a near-miss incident at Sydney airport. The nation's busiest airport experienced a tense moment when the two planes narrowly avoided a collision on Sunday morning. A Jetstar spokesperson confirmed their aircraft was following air traffic control instructions when pilots had to take evasive action.

In health news, federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced that the national bulk billing rate has risen to 84.1% for the June quarter, marking an increase of nearly five percentage points since the previous year. This rise is attributed to the government's Medicare investments, with significant improvements noted across various states and territories, although the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) still lags behind with the lowest rate nationally.

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Across the country more and more GP practices are becoming fully bulk billing clinics meaning all patients need is their Medicare card, not their credit card.