Australia to establish government AI office to coordinate regulation

Australia will create an office at the ​heart of government to ​manage the development of AI standards, seeking to ​balance the need to attract investment with effective regulation of the disruptive technology.

The "Office of AI" will be established within the Department of the ‌Prime Minister ⁠and ⁠Cabinet and ensure a whole-of-government approach across different ministries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce the initiative in a major address on Wednesday in Sydney.


"Up until now, our response has been issue-by-issue, sector by sector," Albanese is expected to say.

"But just as ​government developed co-ordinated approaches for other ⁠significant technologies: ‌from civil aviation in the 1920s to ​genetics in ​the 1990s, we must do this with ⁠AI as well."

The approach is a world-first and ​will enhance Australia's appeal as a destination for ​AI investment by providing more clarity for approvals and a more streamlined compliance process, Albanese is expected to say.

The announcement comes as Australia seeks to position itself as an AI leader and a global hub for data ‌centres, while facing calls for tougher regulation as the technology spreads through the economy.

Concerns are growing ​that AI will ​lead to ⁠job losses and higher energy costs, infringe on safety, security and intellectual property, and harm the environment through the expansion of ​data centres that require vast amounts of water.

Australia currently does not have any specific AI laws, and instead relies on a range of privacy and consumer protection laws as well as a voluntary AI ethics framework.