AI Regulation Centralised Under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Own Department with the New ‘Office of AI’
Australian Financial Review
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Details
- Date Published
- 14 July 2026
- Priority Score
- 5
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 14 July 2026, 02:01 pm
Description
The prime minister is installing a new “Office of AI” inside his department in a move that reflects the scale of disruption the technology is causing.
Summary
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has initiated a major policy pivot by centralising Australia's artificial intelligence oversight within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet through a new 'Office of AI'. This move signifies a shift toward treating AI as a top-tier national priority, specifically targeting the conduct of frontier AI developers like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. The establishment of Australian-specific standards aims to mitigate large-scale societal disruption and ensure 'social licence' for high-capability models. This governance restructure represents a significant development in Australian AI policy, focusing on the accountability of global tech firms in relation to national interests and safety.
Body
TechnologyAIPrint articleRonald MizenPolitical correspondentJul 14, 2026 – 10.30pmPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has seized control of the government’s artificial intelligence agenda, installing a new Office of AI inside his department.In a speech at the University of Sydney titled “AI in Australia’s interests”, Albanese on Wednesday will outline new policies on AI that include Australian standards for the technology and the Labor government’s expectations of how big technology companies such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft and Google will have to act to “earn” their social licence.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleRead MoreAISoftwareWeb cultureConsumer safetyRegulationIndustrial relationsWorkplaceData centresFetching latest articles