Countries / Australia

Australia

Australia decided in its December 2025 National AI Plan to rely on existing laws rather than mandatory AI guardrails, adding an AI Safety Institute, a binding AI policy for federal agencies and new privacy transparency duties for automated decisions from Dec 2026.

Sector regulators and guidelinesApproach
4Rules tracked
3Binding and in force
1Upcoming deadlines

In force (4)

  • National AI Plan
    StrategyDepartment of Industry, Science and Resources (Minister for Industry and Innovation)Non-binding

    Australia's national AI plan to capture economic opportunity, spread benefits and keep people safe. Rather than a new AI-specific law with mandatory guardrails, the government will rely on and strengthen existing laws, and commits $29.9 million to establish an Australian AI Safety Institute in early 2026.

    In forceEffective 2 Dec 2025
  • Privacy Act ADM transparency
    LawParliament of Australia; Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)Binding

    Requires entities covered by the Privacy Act to state in their privacy policies the kinds of personal information used, and the kinds of decisions made, by computer programs that make or substantially and directly assist decisions significantly affecting individuals' rights or interests. It is a transparency duty only, with no right to contest.

    Partly in forceApplies 10 Dec 2026
  • APS AI Policy v2
    GuidelineDigital Transformation Agency (DTA)Binding

    Mandatory policy for non-corporate Commonwealth entities (defence and intelligence excluded) requiring accountable officials, internal AI use-case registers with accountable owners, pre-deployment impact assessments, mandatory foundational AI training for APS staff, transparency statements and incident processes. Requirements phase in through 2026.

    In forceEffective 15 Dec 2025
  • Deepfake Sexual Material Act
    LawParliament of Australia; Attorney-General's DepartmentBinding

    Creates Commonwealth offences for transmitting sexual material depicting adults without their consent using a carriage service, expressly covering material created or altered with technology such as AI deepfakes, with aggravated offences where the person also created the material.

    In forceEffective 3 Sep 2024

What the rules require

Obligation types found across Australia's instruments. Filled dot: imposed by a binding instrument. Ring: guidance only.

Prohibited usesDeepfake Sexual Material Act
Transparency to usersPrivacy Act ADM transparency, APS AI Policy v2
Impact assessmentAPS AI Policy v2
Human oversightAPS AI Policy v2
Incident reportingAPS AI Policy v2
Data governancePrivacy Act ADM transparency
Government use of AINational AI Plan, APS AI Policy v2
PenaltiesDeepfake Sexual Material Act

Timeline