Australian Government AI Policy and Frameworks¶

Purpose: Understand the Australian Government's approach to AI governance — policy, guidance, institutions and timelines Audience: Governance, compliance, risk and strategy teams | Time: 30-40 minutes

Australia does not yet have a standalone AI Act. Instead, the Government relies on existing technology-neutral laws (see Current Legal Landscape) supported by voluntary guidance, a growing set of institutional arrangements and — for Commonwealth agencies — the first mandatory AI requirements.

This page covers government policy, guidance frameworks and institutional developments. For the laws themselves, see Current Legal Landscape for AI in Australia.

National AI Plan (December 2025)¶

The National AI Plan sets Australia's national roadmap for AI. Key positions:

• Australia will rely on existing laws and sector regulators rather than introducing a standalone AI Act or immediate mandatory guardrails
• A new AI Safety Institute will monitor, test and advise on emerging AI risks
• Government investment in AI infrastructure, skills and research through specific programs (AI Adopt Centres, AI Accelerator CRC, APS AI Plan)

The Government's formal response to the Senate Select Committee on Adopting AI was tabled on 1 April 2026, confirming these positions and committing to:

• Launch of the AI Accelerator CRC (CRC-P Round 19 now; CRC Round 28 in 2027)
• Rejection of a text-and-data-mining exception in copyright law (see legislation page)
• Consultation on AI's impact on the creative sector through the next National Cultural Policy process
• Affirmation of the Privacy Act automated decision-making reforms (effective 10 December 2026)

AI Safety Institute¶

The Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI) was formally established in early 2026 with $29.9 million in committed funding.

Remit:

• Technical assessments of advanced AI systems
• Bilateral and multilateral engagement through the International Network of AI Safety Institutes
• Publishing research on AI safety

Key developments:

• The AISI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Anthropic on 1 April 2026 — the first formal industry collaboration under the National AI Plan. The MOU covers AI safety evaluation, infrastructure alignment and capability building. It is non-binding and does not confer preferential treatment in procurement
• Australia and Canada agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on AI safety through the International Network of AI Safety Institutes

The AISI advises; portfolio agencies and sector regulators retain enforcement responsibility.

DTA Mandatory AI Requirements (Commonwealth Agencies)¶

The DTA updated its Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government (effective 15 December 2025). Key elements:

• Mandatory AI Impact Assessments using a new AI Impact Assessment Tool (12-section fillable template aligned with AI Ethics Principles)
• Mandatory AI procurement guidance
• Mandatory foundational AI training for all Australian Public Service staff
• Requirement for agencies to appoint Chief AI Officers

Timeline:

While these are mandatory only for Commonwealth agencies, they signal the direction for all Australian organisations. The DTA's AI Impact Assessment Tool is a practical resource for any organisation assessing AI risk.

GovAI Chat — an AI assistant for APS staff — began trials from April 2026 as part of the broader APS AI Plan.

Data Centre and AI Infrastructure Expectations (March 2026)¶

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources published voluntary-but-consequential expectations for data centre and AI infrastructure developers on 23 March 2026.

Key expectations:

• Fair and well-paid Australian jobs
• Investment in domestic workforce development
• Contribution to research and innovation
• Underwriting new renewable power supply

Data centre proposals not closely aligned with these expectations will not be prioritised by Commonwealth regulatory assessments, giving the document practical regulatory weight.

Guidance for AI Adoption (AI6)¶

The Guidance for AI Adoption (October 2025) is the primary government guidance for responsible AI governance and adoption. Published by the National AI Centre (NAIC), it sets out six essential practices:

1. Decide accountability
2. Understand impacts
3. Measure and manage risks
4. Share information
5. Test and monitor
6. Maintain human control

Two versions are available: Foundations (for organisations starting out) and Implementation practices (for more mature organisations). Supporting tools include an AI screening tool, AI policy guide and template, and AI register template.

For detailed coverage, see Guidance for AI Adoption (AI6).

Voluntary AI Safety Standard (VAISS)¶

The Voluntary AI Safety Standard (September 2024) introduced 10 guardrails for safe and responsible AI. These guardrails remain relevant as a detailed control set and have been fully integrated into the Guidance for AI Adoption through an official "VAISS × implementation practices" crosswalk.

For detailed coverage of the 10 guardrails, see Voluntary AI Safety Standard.

Government–Industry Arrangements¶

ACCC Enforcement Approach¶

The ACCC published its own AI transparency statement in February 2026 and has flagged "AI-washing" (misleading claims about AI capabilities) as an enforcement concern. The Treasury's review of AI and the Australian Consumer Law found the existing framework "fit for purpose", making dedicated AI consumer legislation unlikely in the near term.

Key Dates¶

Key References¶

• National AI Plan — industry.gov.au
• AI Safety Institute — industry.gov.au
• DTA AI Policy Update — dta.gov.au
• AI Impact Assessment Tool — digital.gov.au
• Government Response to Senate Select Committee on AI — industry.gov.au
• Data Centre Expectations — industry.gov.au
• Guidance for AI Adoption (AI6) — industry.gov.au
• Voluntary AI Safety Standard — industry.gov.au