New Australian AI safety and security protections

The Albanese Government will enshrine world leading mandatory Artificial Intelligence safety and security protections in Australian AI Standards legislation.

Australia has the chance to secure and shape the generational opportunities of AI – in Australia’s national interest – while keeping Australians safe.

We want AI investors to come to Australia but first and foremost we want to keep Australians safe. That is why we are choosing to announce our approach to safety first and before a range of major international talks that will cover AI development and investment.

Safety and security are the foundation for building trust in frontier AI. Frontier AI is the term used for the most sophisticated models at the cutting edge of current technological capability. Frontier AI offers huge opportunities but also come with the highest risks to the community if they are not used safely. That is why we are acting now.

Australia has a world leading reputation for setting standards on digital safety. Our approach to AI continues to keep Australian values at the forefront.

AI offers Australia huge opportunities whether it’s boosting productivity, building economic resilience or revolutionising healthcare.

To seize these opportunities, we need to ensure social licence for AI, safety for Australians and security for our national interest.

We are announcing today that as part of the Albanese Government’s AI in Australia’s Interests agenda*,* strong mandatory safety and security protections will be legislated through the AI Standards and apply to all frontier AI companies that wish to operate in Australia.

The Government will propose these protections be enforced by a new targeted regulator for AI safety, which will work with the Australian AI Safety Institute to provide technical expertise and oversight as global standards evolve.

The regulator would be able to enforce significant penalties for AI companies that fail to comply with mandatory obligations that will help keep Australia safe.

Companies will be required by the regulator to:

1. Maintain security controls across all stages of development and deployment
2. Identify and manage serious risks associated with their models
3. Allow independent evaluation of their models
4. Provide mandatory notification of incidents to the Australian Government rapidly
5. Maintain and publish safety and security frameworks to ensure good governance, risk management and transparency
6. Respond to updated standards and rules as technologies change.

These protections are aligned with interim report recommendations from the Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence.

These measures will help provide earlier warning of emerging risks from rogue AI agents and enable faster, coordinated action when serious AI incidents occur.

As previously outlined, there are a range of other policy areas covered in the Australian AI Standards legislation. Further details of the legislation will become available in due course as the Government completes its detailed work and consultation.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

"Artificial intelligence presents enormous opportunities for Australia, but we must also be prepared for the new risks that come with rapidly advancing technology.

"These protections will ensure we keep Australians safe and secure our national interests, while seizing the generational opportunities that AI offers.

“Our world-leading AI in Australia’s Interests agenda aims to provide Australians confidence that frontier AI companies are taking steps to improve safety and security, and provide certainty for investors – boosting productivity, building economic resilience, while bolstering sovereignty.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles

“Getting these settings right will help ensure Australia can harness the opportunities artificial intelligence presents for our economy, our national security and our sovereignty.

“The Albanese Government is committed to putting in place the protections that will allow Australia to be at the forefront of this technology to keep Australians safe.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security Tony Burke

“Those who want to cause us harm have access to the latest technology.

“We need to make sure we have the same, or better.

“But it’s not a free-for-all, there needs to be clear guardrails to protect Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres

“Keeping Australians safe is at the heart of the Albanese Labor Government’s approach to artificial intelligence.

“The National AI Plan released last year put safety at the core of the Government’s AI agenda - capturing the opportunities of AI while keeping Australians safe.

“Legislating protections as part of the Australian AI Standards will build on the work of the National AI Plan, helping Australia spread the benefits of AI across the country, while making sure that AI systems are developed and deployed in Australia’s national interest.

“Strong protections will ensure that Australia has the capacity to shape our own technological future and build our economic resilience.”