Australia's National AI Plan: What Government Teams Need to Know
Australia now has a national plan for artificial intelligence. The goal is simple: help people and agencies benefit from AI while managing the risks that come with it.
In development since 2024, the roadmap follows the Government's decision to make AI a national priority and its work on copyright protections for creative industries. Funding is already committed - $29.9 million for an AI Safety Institute launching in 2026 to monitor risks and support regulators.
What the plan promises
Industry Minister Tim Ayres says the plan sets a clear path to capture AI's opportunities, share the benefits, and keep people safe - all under the Future Made in Australia agenda with a focus on high-value local jobs.
As he put it: "The National AI Plan is about making sure technology serves Australians, not the other way around."
Public sector focus: build trust and lift service quality
The plan outlines immediate steps to integrate AI across government in a safe, consistent way:
- Embed AI in government operations through the secure GovAI platform.
- Pilot generative AI in schools with strong guardrails.
- Lift digital and data skills across the public service to improve productivity and job satisfaction.
The direction is clear: lead by example, show measurable improvements in service quality, and keep risk controls tight.
Infrastructure to make it possible
Government will move faster on essential infrastructure for AI - including data centres and supporting capability - so agencies can deploy solutions without compromising performance, security, or availability.
Inclusion is non-negotiable
The plan states that every Australian should be able to benefit from AI. That means elevating regional and disadvantaged voices in the design and rollout of services so communities aren't left behind.
Priority actions for government teams
- Identify high-value use cases linked to clear policy or service outcomes (e.g., triage, case support, summarisation, citizen feedback analysis).
- Set guardrails early: risk assessments, privacy impact assessments, model and data documentation, and human-in-the-loop controls for sensitive decisions.
- Strengthen skills across roles - policy, legal, procurement, cyber, and delivery - so teams can use AI responsibly and effectively. For structured options, explore job-specific learning paths at Complete AI Training.
- Update procurement: demand transparency on model origin, data handling, evaluation results, content provenance, and security certifications.
- Pilot in controlled environments (sandboxes), measure impact rigorously, and publish learnings to build trust and consistency across agencies.
- Engage stakeholders early - including regional communities and people most affected by automated decisions - to surface risks and improve design.
Safety, ethics, and accountability
Expect stronger oversight as the AI Safety Institute comes online. Agencies should align to national guidance on safe and responsible use, privacy obligations, and transparency standards for automated decision-making.
For policy context and principles, see the Government's guidance on safe and responsible AI in Australia: industry.gov.au.
What success looks like
- Faster, more consistent services - with clear human accountability.
- Documented risk controls that stand up to audit and public scrutiny.
- Proven value from pilots before scaling.
- Skills uplift across the APS, not just in technical teams.
- Concrete benefits reaching regional and disadvantaged communities.
This plan is a mandate to act - carefully, visibly, and with the public interest front and centre. Done well, it will mean better outcomes for people and more satisfying work for teams on the front line of service delivery.
Source: SBS News
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