The Australian Academy of Science has endorsed the Federal Government's draft AI regulations. 

Contributing its expertise to the National Science and Technology Council in March 2023, the Academy has played a key role in shaping the government's approach. 

The interim response, which the Academy describes as a “sensible first step”, leverages the research sector's advice, focusing on legal, regulatory, and governance measures spanning various portfolios.

A key highlight of the government's plan is the emphasis on balancing innovation and competition with robust community safeguards. 

These safeguards are designed to protect privacy, security, and online safety, thereby avoiding disproportionate burdens on the research and development sector, the community, and regulators.

The interim response also acknowledges the importance of international engagement in shaping global AI governance. 

In this context, Australia aims to support and strengthen AI governance and capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. 

This effort is facilitated through the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, hosted by Australia via the Academy.

The Australian Academy of Science continues to urge the government to lead in several areas. 

These include developing a national AI strategy for the science sector, investing in sovereign high-performance computing facilities, and implementing the UNESCO recommendation on Open Science. 

Such measures are essential to ensure Australia's AI capabilities are not overly reliant on other nations and to leverage the most reliable scientific data and peer-reviewed publications.

The government published its interim response on 17 January 2024, outlining stakeholder feedback and strategies to ensure the safe and responsible deployment of AI technologies.

This consultation forms part of Australia's broader vision to be a frontrunner in responsible AI. 

The nation's established AI research capabilities and early adoption of digital technology trust measures, like the world’s first eSafety Commissioner in 2015 and a national set of AI Ethics Principles, position Australia uniquely in the global AI landscape.