No AI-specific law. Voluntary AI Safety Standard (Sept 2024), evolved into the Guidance for AI Adoption (Oct 2025); National AI Plan (2 Dec 2025); Privacy Act automated-decision transparency duty from 10 Dec 2026

Summary

Australia has no AI-specific statute. The Voluntary AI Safety Standard (10 voluntary guardrails, September 2024) was simplified in October 2025 into the Guidance for AI Adoption, which sets out 6 essential practices. The National AI Plan of December 2, 2025, dropped the earlier plan for mandatory guardrails on high-risk AI and relies on existing technology-neutral laws plus guidance. The binding piece is in privacy law: under the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, from December 10, 2026, entities covered by the Australian Privacy Principles that use personal information in automated decisions that could affect individuals' rights or interests must describe that use in their privacy policies. The OAIC consulted on guidance for this duty until June 15, 2026.

Key dates

1. December 2, 2025Key date
2. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
3. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. On 21 October 2025, we published the Guidance for AI Adoption , which outlines 6 essential practices for safe and responsible AI governance.

   Supports: Guidance for AI Adoption date and 6 practices

   The standard consists of 10 voluntary guardrails that apply to all organisations throughout the AI supply chain.

   Supports: 10 voluntary guardrails

   Date published: 5 September 2024

   Supports: VAISS publication date

   Voluntary AI Safety Standard Department of Industry, Science and Resources Primary source

2. With the release of the Plan, the Government has officially abandoned its intention to introduce those mandatory guardrails

   Supports: Mandatory guardrails abandoned

   The Federal Government launched a new National AI Plan on 2 December 2025.

   Supports: National AI Plan date

   Australia now has a National AI Plan. Now What? Piper Alderman Reporting or analysis

3. From 10 December 2026, APP entities that use personal information in ADM with the potential to affect rights or interests will be required to provide information in their privacy policies

   Supports: ADM transparency duty from December 10, 2026

   The closing date for submissions is Monday 15 June 2026.

   Supports: Consultation close date

   Consultation on Guidance for Transparency in Automated Decision Making Office of the Australian Information Commissioner Primary source

4. Keep Australians safe with legislative and regulatory frameworks that mitigate AI harms

   Supports: Plan relies on legislative and regulatory frameworks

   National AI Plan Department of Industry, Science and Resources Primary source