Australia launches AI Plan; eludes strict norms

Australia launches AI Plan; eludes strict norms

The government recently announced setting up an AI Safety Institute to help authorities monitor risks and respond to threats

Australia has introduced a blueprint, the National AI Plan, to promote artificial intelligence (AI) across its economy. However, it intends to rely on existing laws to manage emerging risks. The move is a reconsideration of earlier plans for stringent rules in high-risk situations.

Currently, the country has no specific AI laws. In 2024, the centre-left Labor government indicated introducing voluntary guidelines amid concerns over privacy, transparency and security.

As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, the government has now stated that it will focus on luring investment in advanced data centres, building AI skills to support and protect jobs, and ensuring public safety.

In the National AI Plan, the administration said, "The government's regulatory approach to AI will continue to build on Australia's robust existing legal and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that established laws remain the foundation for addressing and mitigating AI-related risks.”

It added that agencies and regulators would continue to be responsible for identifying and managing potential AI-related harms within their sectors.

The master plan was introduced after the government recently announced setting up an AI Safety Institute in 2026 to help authorities monitor emerging risks and respond to threats.

Meanwhile, global regulators have increasingly raised concerns about misinformation associated with generative AI tools such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, which are being used extensively.

Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres remarked that the AI roadmap would ensure that Australians benefit from the new technology and shall also maintain a balance between innovation and risk management.

Ayres added, "As the technology continues to evolve, we will continue to refine and strengthen this plan to seize new opportunities and act decisively to keep Australians safe.”

However, Niusha Shafiabady, Associate Professor, Australian Catholic University, raised concerns about certain critical gaps in the government's updated AI plan.

Shafiabady opined, "The plan is ambitious in unlocking data and boosting productivity, but it leaves critical gaps in accountability, sovereignty, sustainability, and democratic oversight. Without addressing these unexplored areas, Australia risks building an AI economy that is efficient but not equitable or trusted."