The biggest names in tech gathered to hear Bronwyn’s speech. Then the minister made a humiliating gaffe again… and again… and again – before serving up an eyewatering excuse

A Labor politician has left attendees at Australia’s premier technology conference scratching their heads after a lengthy speech about how ‘A-one’ was reshaping society.

Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Employment Bronwyn Halfpenny was believed to be referring to AI, or artificial intelligence, during her pre-written speech at the $1,500-per-ticket National Tech Summit in Melbourne.

She told the crowd how ‘A-one’ revolutionized the economy, that ‘A-one’ would become a permanent part of Australia in the future and how the labor market would have to shift to accommodate ‘A-one’, reported nine newspapers. .

Ms Halfpenny later tried to play down the embarrassing blunder by posting a photo of herself posing with staff from the A1 bakery in Brunswick, Melbourne, on Thursday.

“I should have been here on Tuesday when I thought about A1 Bakery,” she captioned the photo posted to her social media accounts.

‘Finally succeeded today. Thanks to Grace and Jules for the delicious food as always!’

The location – although it is a popular coffee shop serving well-reviewed Lebanese baked goods – has nothing to do with artificial intelligence.

Ms Halfpenny’s speech was delivered to some of the country’s biggest technology movers and shakers. Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, Canva co-founder Cliff Obrecht and Google’s chief technical officer Roisin Parkes also spoke at the event.

She then jokingly tried to say she was referring to a bakery of the same name in a ridiculous post on her X account, which has only one post and one follower (pictured)

Victorian Liberal member for the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region Richard Welch later tweeted that the speech made him “cry for Victoria”.

The Federal Minister of Industry and Science, Ed Husic, who was there to let the sector know that the Albanian government supported it, must have been particularly shocked.

“Thank you to MP Bronwyn Halfpenny for your support of the tech industry as a whole,” the Tech Council of Australia organizer wrote.

Ms Halfpenny, state member for Thomastown, previously worked as assistant secretary of the food and confectionery division of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and as an industrial officer at the Victorian Trades Hall Council.

Mrs Halfpenny then claimed she had the A1 Bakery in mind (above, then visited the bakery)

Scott Farquhar, co-founder and CEO of global software company Atlassian, attended the summit

The event cost non-members of the Tech Council $1,550 to attend – including welcome drinks, two days of speeches and a gala dinner – while members had to pay $1,250.

According to the Tech Council’s website, it ‘works with governments at all levels to ensure Australia and Australians can benefit from the enormous opportunities technology brings’.

“We advise and work with Australian governments, businesses and the wider community to help support the continued creation, development and adoption of technology across all sectors.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Halfpenny and the Tech Council for comment.