Artificial Intelligence · Australia
Artificial Intelligence - Australia
Australia has no comprehensive AI law and, as confirmed by the National AI Plan released on 2 December 2025, has decided against an EU-style AI Act or the mandatory 'high-risk' guardrails it consulted on in 2024. AI is instead governed by voluntary guidance (the Oct 2025 Guidance for AI Adoption and the AI Ethics Principles) layered on existing, largely technology-neutral laws, with regulators and a new AI Safety Institute monitoring risks. Some existing-law reforms touch AI, notably new Privacy Act transparency rules for automated decision-making taking effect 10 December 2026.
The National AI Plan (2 Dec 2025) confirms Australia will not pursue economy-wide AI legislation or mandatory high-risk guardrails for now, instead building on existing legal and regulatory frameworks as the foundation for managing AI risks.
On 21 October 2025 the National AI Centre published 'Guidance for AI Adoption', setting out 6 essential practices for responsible AI governance (Foundations and Implementation Practices versions). It updates and replaces the 2024 Voluntary AI Safety Standard and aligns with ISO/IEC 42001 and the NIST AI RMF; it creates no new legal obligations.
In September 2024 the government released a Voluntary AI Safety Standard comprising 10 voluntary guardrails (accountability, risk management, data governance, testing, human oversight, transparency, contestability, record-keeping, etc.), now superseded by the 2025 Guidance.
A September 2024 proposals paper consulted on mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings (modelled on the EU AI Act/Canada's AIDA). These were not legislated; the Dec 2025 National AI Plan opted for existing laws plus voluntary guidance instead.
The government announced an Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI) to monitor, test and share information on emerging AI capabilities, risks and harms, supporting ministers and regulators; rollout began in early 2026.
The Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (assented 10 Dec 2024) adds transparency requirements (new APP 1.7) for automated decision-making that significantly affects individuals, including AI tools; obligations take effect 10 December 2026, enforced by the OAIC.
Machine-assisted translation · verified 5/23/2026 · orientation, not legal advice. English version →