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AI regulation in Oceania

Summary

Oceania has 2 recorded jurisdictions with AI policy on record, 0 of them with at least one binding AI-specific instrument. Across the region this site records 5 instruments and 3 recorded duties, each linked to its official source. Most countries in the region regulate AI through strategies, guidance and existing law rather than a dedicated AI act; the table below shows which is which.

Jurisdictions with records
2
With binding AI law
0
Instruments
5
Recorded duties
3

Last updated

Country by country

Jurisdictions in Oceania with recorded AI policy
JurisdictionInstrumentsBindingStatus
Australia3Guidance and strategyNo binding cross-sector AI law; mandatory guardrails were consulted on in 2024 but the December 2025 National AI Plan signalled an existing-...
New Zealand2Guidance and strategyNational AI Strategy (2025) and responsible-AI guidance as policy; Algorithm Charter for government agencies; no AI-specific law.

No instrument recorded yet for: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. See the open gaps.

Latest changes in Oceania

Australia High Under consultation

Australia releases a National AI Plan signalling an existing-law approach

The National AI Plan set out the government's AI agenda and indicated that AI would be governed by strengthening existing laws rather than a standalone AI Act. The status of the 2024 mandatory-guardrails proposal must be confirmed.

Practical impact: Australian organisations should not expect a cross-economy AI Act in the near term; existing-law compliance and the voluntary standard remain the baseline.

Australian mandatory guardrails proposal National AI Plan Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by AI Policy Tracker (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)
New Zealand Routine Adopted

New Zealand publishes its first national AI strategy and rules out a standalone AI act

MBIE released the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses, opting for a light-touch approach based on existing law and OECD principles.

Practical impact: Businesses in New Zealand should apply the responsible-AI guidance and privacy law; no new AI statute is planned.

New Zealand AI Strategy (2025) New Zealand's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by AI Policy Tracker (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)
Australia Routine

Preceding consultation on mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI opened (government later chose not to proceed with them)

Milestone recorded for National AI Plan (Australia): Preceding consultation on mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI opened (government later chose not to proceed with them). Recorded from the official source listed; details to be expanded by a reviewer.

National AI Plan Preceding consultation on mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI opened (government later chose not to proceed with them) Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by AI Policy Tracker (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)
Australia High Voluntary standard

Australia releases a Voluntary AI Safety Standard and consults on mandatory guardrails

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources published ten voluntary guardrails and a proposals paper on mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI, with consultation to 4 October 2024.

Practical impact: Australian organisations gained a concrete voluntary baseline aligned with ISO/IEC 42001 and the NIST AI RMF.

Australian Voluntary AI Safety Standard Voluntary AI Safety Standard Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by AI Policy Tracker (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)

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Frequently asked questions

Which countries in Oceania have binding AI law?
None of the recorded jurisdictions in Oceania has an AI-specific binding instrument on record; AI is governed through existing law, strategies and guidance.
How many AI policy instruments are recorded for Oceania?
5 published instruments across 2 jurisdictions, with 3 duties broken out from them. Every record links to its official source and states its verification status.
How current is this page?
It is computed from the records at every request. The latest change recorded in the region is dated 2 December 2025; the change log and the weekly digest carry each new one.

Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries in Oceania have binding AI law?
None of the recorded jurisdictions in Oceania has an AI-specific binding instrument on record; AI is governed through existing law, strategies and guidance.
How many AI policy instruments are recorded for Oceania?
5 published instruments across 2 jurisdictions, with 3 duties broken out from them. Every record links to its official source and states its verification status.
How current is this page?
It is computed from the records at every request. The latest change recorded in the region is dated 2 December 2025; the change log and the weekly digest carry each new one.