Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to toughen copyright laws for local artists facing theft by AI models. During a major policy speech on July 15 2026, he called for rules balancing innovation and protection for artists. Calls have grown for a freeze on new server expansion until the government finalises AI rules to stop unauthorised scraping of artistic content. The prime minister’s call has drawn criticism over whether it can be enforced against global tech firms whose servers sit outside Australia. Labour backbenchers and industry groups warn weak penalties risk leaving artists exposed despite the intended safeguards.