In Canberra on 2 December, the Australian government rolled out the National AI Plan, a guide meant to help industry, researchers, policy makers and everyday Australians use artificial‑intelligence safely and productively. The plan stresses helping workers whose jobs are affected by AI, pumping more money into data‑center infrastructure, and spreading the productivity gains of AI across the economy.
Industry and innovation minister Tim Ayres told Xinhua News Agency that the plan is designed to keep Australians protected as AI technology keeps evolving. He said that, starting in 2026, a new government‑funded AI Safety Institute—announced in November—will assess emerging AI capabilities and help spark quick responses to any risks that surface.
"The National AI Plan is about making sure technology serves Australians, not the other way around," Ayres said, stressing that AI should benefit the country rather than the other way around.
The strategy argues that it’s in Australia’s best interest to shape AI development domestically and keep it in line with national priorities. Forecasts project that data‑center electricity use could rise to six per cent of the country’s total demand by the end of the decade, up from about two per cent in 2024.
To meet the energy and water challenges, the federal government is working hand‑in‑hand with state and territory partners.
Although earlier proposals to impose ten mandatory safeguards on "high risk" AI—such as risk‑management plans and the right to challenge automated decisions—were dropped, officials confirmed there will be no dedicated AI legislation. A Productivity Commission report published in August warned that heavy regulation could cost the economy roughly 116 billion Australian dollars over the next decade.
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