Companies operating across state borders face different AI compliance requirements in each jurisdiction. No formal harmonisation mechanism exists.
Voluntary. Core reference adopted by all states. Covers human rights, fairness, transparency, accountability, reliability, privacy, contestability, oversight.
National AI Centre's six essential practices for AI developers and deployers. Replaced the Voluntary AI Safety Standard (VAISS). Current baseline reference.
Australia's first whole-of-economy AI strategy. Government formally abandoned mandatory AI-specific guardrails: approach is policy-led, not statute-led. No standalone AI Act. Existing laws (Privacy Act, Consumer Law, Online Safety Act) updated instead.
Updated Policy for Responsible Use of AI in Government. APS agencies must maintain an internal AI use-case register, assign an accountable owner per use case, and complete an AI Impact Assessment before deployment. Each APS agency must also designate a CAIO.
Operational 2026. Independent technical analysis, monitoring, safety testing, and advice to regulators and ministers. Anthropic MOU signed 31 Mar 2026 includes AISI collaboration.
First signed agreement under the National AI Plan. AUD$3M in Claude API credits to ANU, Murdoch Children's, Garvan, and Curtin University (Perth). Sydney office opens 2026.
Mandatory disclosure when a synthetic AI voice hosts regular programs or news. First AU broadcasting code to address AI. May extend to streaming if voluntary compliance is insufficient.
Consultation closes. Affects any AI platform processing data from users under 16. Code must be registered under the Privacy Act by 10 Dec 2026.
APP entities must disclose in their Privacy Policy when a computer program makes decisions that significantly affect individuals. OAIC enforcement: infringement notices, compliance notices, civil penalties.
5 governance failures shaped every current framework: no legal basis, removed human oversight, flawed algorithm, suppressed concerns, no accountability.
Article 2 high-risk obligations enforceable on AU companies serving EU markets. Penalties up to EUR 35M / 7% global turnover.