The Australian Government has unveiled its AI Plan for the Australian Public Service (APS), a national strategy to integrate generative artificial intelligence across government operations while ensuring transparency, accountability, and citizen trust. The plan, released by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, outlines measures to train every public servant, strengthen governance, and modernize digital infrastructure to improve service delivery for Australians.
The APS AI Plan aims to make AI a standard part of how government agencies operate by 2026. Each department will appoint a Chief AI Officer, all public servants will complete mandatory training on responsible AI use, and every agency will gain access to GovAI Chat, a secure generative AI platform designed for government employees. The plan’s three core pillars—Trust, People, and Tools—frame its approach to safe and effective AI adoption across the public sector.
Under the Trust pillar, the government will update its Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government and create an AI Review Committee to provide oversight of high-risk use cases. New contractual rules will require external service providers to disclose their use of AI, ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement.
The People pillar focuses on workforce readiness. Foundational AI literacy will become mandatory for all APS employees, while leaders will receive specialized training to guide safe adoption. The government will also establish an AI Delivery and Enablement (AIDE) team to accelerate implementation and share best practices across agencies.
Finally, the Tools pillar introduces GovAI, a secure, Australian-hosted platform offering AI model brokerage, data safeguards, and cost-effective development capabilities. A new whole-of-government cloud policy, to be published in December 2025, will further support AI-driven innovation and data security.
Gallagher said the plan “lays the foundation for a more capable, transparent, and future-ready public service,” positioning Australia as a global leader in ethical and effective AI governance.
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