# Australia

- **Record type**: Jurisdiction profile
- **Short name**: Australia
- **ISO code**: AU
- **Type**: country
- **Region**: Oceania

## In brief

Australia has 3 recorded AI policy instruments, none of them binding. No binding cross-sector AI law; mandatory guardrails were consulted on in 2024 but the December 2025 National AI Plan signalled an existing-law approach. Regulators include Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Digital Transformation Agency, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Australia has no AI-specific statute.

## Overview

Australia has no AI-specific statute. After the 2023 "Safe and responsible AI in Australia" consultation and the January 2024 interim response, the government published a Voluntary AI Safety Standard and a proposals paper for mandatory guardrails in high-risk settings in September 2024. In December 2025 the government released a National AI Plan indicating it would rely on strengthening existing laws rather than a standalone AI Act. Federal agencies are bound by the Digital Transformation Agency's policy for responsible use of AI in government. Binding obligations for business come from the Privacy Act 1988 (including 2024 amendments on automated decisions), consumer law, anti-discrimination law and sector regulation.

## Regulatory status

No binding cross-sector AI law; mandatory guardrails were consulted on in 2024 but the December 2025 National AI Plan signalled an existing-law approach. Voluntary AI Safety Standard available. Government agencies follow a binding whole-of-government AI policy. A reviewer must confirm the current status of the mandatory-guardrails proposal.

## What is binding and what is guidance

Binding: Privacy Act 1988 and Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (automated decision transparency provisions with delayed commencement), Australian Consumer Law, anti-discrimination Acts, sector rules (APRA, ASIC, TGA); the DTA AI policy for federal agencies. Guidance / voluntary: Voluntary AI Safety Standard, AI Ethics Principles, OAIC guidance on AI and privacy.

## Current priorities

National AI Plan delivery, AI Safety Institute establishment, reform of the Privacy Act, guidance from the OAIC and eSafety Commissioner, and government AI assurance.

## Regulators

- Department of Industry, Science and Resources — AI policy lead, Voluntary AI Safety Standard — https://www.industry.gov.au/
- Digital Transformation Agency — Government AI policy and assurance — https://www.digital.gov.au/
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner — Privacy Act and AI privacy guidance — https://www.oaic.gov.au/

## How to use this profile

- Use the Voluntary AI Safety Standard's ten guardrails as the baseline expected by Australian regulators and buyers.
- Apply the Privacy Act, including the new automated-decision transparency provisions, to AI using personal information.
- If you supply the federal government, align with the DTA policy for responsible use of AI in government.

## Official sources

- Voluntary AI Safety Standard — Department of Industry, Science and Resources — https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/voluntary-ai-safety-standard
- Safe and responsible AI in Australia — proposals paper for introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings — Department of Industry, Science and Resources — https://consult.industry.gov.au/ai-mandatory-guardrails
- Policy for the responsible use of AI in government — Digital Transformation Agency — https://www.digital.gov.au/policy/ai/policy

## Instruments recorded for this jurisdiction (3)

- **National AI Plan** — National strategy, Adopted, non-binding
  - Record: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-national-ai-plan
  - Context file: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-national-ai-plan.md
- **Proposals paper: introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings (Australia)** — Consultation, Under consultation, non-binding
  - Record: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-mandatory-guardrails-proposal
  - Context file: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-mandatory-guardrails-proposal.md
- **Voluntary AI Safety Standard (Australia)** — Standard, Voluntary standard, non-binding
  - Record: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-voluntary-ai-safety-standard
  - Context file: https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/australia-voluntary-ai-safety-standard.md

## Provenance

- **Record page**: https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/australia
- **Official source**: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/voluntary-ai-safety-standard
- **Source document**: Voluntary AI Safety Standard
- **Published by**: Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- **Review status**: verified
- **Confidence**: medium
- **Facts last confirmed**: 2026-09-26
- **Confirmed by**: Bhaskar Bhatt (see https://aipolicytracker.org/reviewers)
- **Retrieved**: 2026-10-27
- **Licence**: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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