The Australian Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP, issued a press release, on June 1, 2023, which stated that the Australian Government is taking further steps to ensure that the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Australia is safe and responsible. To this end, the Government released two papers to begin a discussion to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in relation to such technologies, namely:

• the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia Discussion Paper, which covers existing regulatory and governance responses in Australia and overseas, identifies potential gaps, and proposes several options to strengthen the framework governing the safe and responsible use of AI; and
• the National Science and Technology Council's paper titled 'Rapid Response Report on Generative AI', which assesses potential risks and opportunities in relation to AI, providing a scientific basis for discussions about the way forward.

You can read the press release here and the discussion papers here.

UPDATE: January 17, 2024

Government publishes interim response to discussion paper on AI safety

On January 17, 2024, the Department of Industry Science and Resources (DISR) published the Australian Government's interim response to the DISR consultation for their discussion paper, 'Supporting Responsible AI in Australia.' In particular, the response outlines the feedback received from stakeholders and discusses the government's strategy to ensure the safe development of AI. 

You can read the press release here and the response here.