National AI plan must move fast to protect Australians
Australians are promised better protection against scams and AI-induced abuse.
The publication of the federal government’s National Artificial Intelligence Plan comes after it said artificial intelligence would become a national priority when consulting on changes to copyright law.
Key parts of the plan relate to reskilling and supporting workers impacted by AI, increasing investment in data centres, and sharing productivity benefits across the economy, as well as criminalizing technology-facilitated abuses such as deepfakes.
“This plan focuses on seizing the economic opportunities of AI, sharing its benefits broadly and keeping Australians safe as the technology advances,” Industry Minister Tim Ayres said.
Nicholas Davis, from the Institute of Human Technologies at the University of Technology Sydney, welcomed the plan, saying it “used the right language”.
But he warned Australians could face harm from AI unless action is taken to implement reform.
“(The plan) does a really good job of outlining the direction and commitments that are needed… and puts workers and communities at the centre,” Professor Davis told AAP.
“The challenge now is to move from determination to action, especially in critical areas like privacy reform.”
Labor has ruled out creating standalone AI legislation alongside existing legislation to cover the emerging technology, an approach suggested by former minister Ed Husic.
“The government is monitoring the development and deployment of artificial intelligence and will respond to challenges as they emerge and our understanding of the strengths and limitations of artificial intelligence improves,” the plan states.
The government has committed $29.9 million to establish an AI Safety Institute in 2026 to ensure monitoring and responding to AI risks.
ACTU deputy secretary Joseph Mitchell said the AI Security Institute would play a key role in holding tech companies accountable for the products they develop and ensuring they comply with Australian law.
Prof Davis said most Australians were unaware of how often algorithms shaped prices, credit, services or what they saw online, making the consumer protection measures outlined in the plan essential.
“Most decision-making processes are invisible. You may not even know your data is being collected, let alone being denied a service or being charged more,” he said.
He likened this shift to product liability reforms of the mid-20th century, which prevented companies from selling unsafe goods without consequences.
“This chain of responsibility is even more important in a world driven by artificial intelligence,” he said.
“If people feel they have been defrauded or manipulated, trust collapses and Australians are already among the least trusting countries in the world.”
The plan has been heralded as a significant step forward in protecting children, as it will strengthen national capacity to detect and respond to harmful AI systems, including those used to create abusive content involving children.
“Children are already growing up in an AI-enabled world,” said Dannielle Kelly, head of government affairs at the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children Australia.
“Our job is to ensure they can do this safely, not by shutting down innovation, but by putting in place clear guardrails and strong regulations.”
Sue Keay, director of the UNSW Artificial Intelligence Institute, said the plan appeared to be “an overdue recognition that Australia probably needs to start paying attention to this AI issue”.
Dr Keay said the framework listed everything the government needed to do, but did not commit to any real investment or sense of urgency.
“Let’s hope the next iteration demonstrates the leadership and urgency this moment requires,” he said.
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