Australia lists consumer protection and a digital duty of care as AI safety priorities

In a media release from multiple ministers, the federal government identified its artificial intelligence (AI) consumer safety priorities, as part of its declared plan to protect Australians and ensure that AI works better for young people and others. 

The joint media release came from the following federal government ministers and assistant ministers: 

• Tim Ayres, senator and minister for industry, innovation, and science 
• Dr Andrew Charlton, assistant minister for science, technology, and digital economy 
• Dr Andrew Leigh, assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities, and treasury 
• Amanda Rishworth, employment and workplace relations minister 
• Michelle Rowland, attorney-general 
• Anika Wells, communications and sport minister 

AI consumer safety priorities

According to the joint media release, the federal government intends to: 

• Legislate a digital duty of care that places the burden on AI companies to incorporate safety by design and proactively tackle possible dangers, led by the communications minister 
• Consult on a second package of privacy reforms seeking to strengthen, modernise, and simplify the federal personal data protection laws in a responsible manner, spearheaded by the attorney-general, as well as implement a robust personal data protection framework for conventional and AI-driven services alike 
• Strive for AI safety in the workplace as one of the five agreed priority areas of the tripartite Artificial Intelligence Workplace and Employment Forum, led by the employment and workplace relations minister 
• Assess options in Australian consumer law to ensure consumer protections and account for retail surveillance pricing, agentic commerce, and other consumer risks, spearheaded by the assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities, and treasury 
• Develop a framework for automated decision-making to regulate federal agencies’ utilisation of this type of technology effectively, led by the attorney-general, to ensure fair, accurate, and transparent government decision-making amid the rise of AI and other emerging technologies 

The ministers said they do not intend these AI consumer safety priorities to be exhaustive.