Australia unveils National AI Plan, opts for existing laws over new regulations

Australia has released its long-awaited National AI Plan, setting out how the country intends to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across industries while maintaining public trust. The updated roadmap signals a shift in tone: the Albanese government has decided to rely largely on existing laws and regulatory settings rather than introduce new rules specifically targeting high-risk AI applications.

The plan outlines three core priorities—boosting AI investment, strengthening workforce skills, and ensuring public safety, as generative AI tools become more embedded in work and daily life. Canberra also reiterated its intention to make Australia an attractive destination for advanced data centres and AI infrastructure, positioning the sector as a future pillar of economic growth.

In the document released Tuesday, the government said Australia’s current legal framework remains “robust enough” to manage AI-related risks for now. Regulators and sector-specific agencies will continue to hold responsibility for identifying harms, ensuring compliance, and responding to emerging threats as technologies evolve.

The roadmap follows the government’s earlier announcement that it will establish a national AI Safety Institute in 2026, aimed at monitoring risks linked to rapidly advancing AI systems, including misinformation, automated decision-making, and potential misuse.

Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the plan aims to strike a balance between innovation and responsibility. “As the technology continues to evolve, we will keep refining our approach to make sure Australians can harness the benefits of AI while staying safe,” he said.

However, not everyone is convinced the plan goes far enough. Associate Professor Niusha Shafiabady from the Australian Catholic University noted that while the roadmap is ambitious in its economic vision, it still leaves “critical gaps” in areas such as accountability, democratic oversight, sustainability and data sovereignty. Without addressing these issues, she warned, Australia risks building an AI economy that is “efficient, but not necessarily equitable or trusted.”