Chair's foreword

Although Australian Public Service (APS) entities have been using different types of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for many years, the field is now developing at an unprecedented rate and generative AI is now ubiquitous. It is far from certain however that there are sufficient accountability mechanisms to cope with the growing impacts of this.

The Committee realised that it was essential to review the current policy settings for AI across the Commonwealth Government to determine if they were fit for purpose. The issue that was fundamental to this inquiry was whether the existing governance and oversight of this technology matches its rapid and continuing advancement. Policy frameworks must be equipped to adequately assess the great promise that AI brings but also understand the inherent and significant risks that accompany its use.

The Committee examined how the APS is currently using AI systems, the risks and areas of concern for this technology, and the current policy settings for AI that are intended to prevent harm. This report makes four key recommendations that the Committee believes will foster the benefits of AI into the future and protect the Australian public from potentially adverse outcomes from its use.

Underlying these recommendations is the Committee’s very grave concern that if the Australian Government does not implement effective and coordinated governance frameworks for AIsystems now, this technology will outpace its ability to do so in the very near future.

The Committee is recommending that the Australian Public Service Commission introduce detailed questions on the use and understanding of AI systems into its annual APS census. This information will make a crucial contribution to the understanding by policymakers of the effectiveness of AI governance frameworks.

The Committee is also recommending that a whole of Government working group be established within 12 months to consider what mandatory rules and governance frameworks will be needed for AI systems across the Commonwealth. Also to be considered is legislation that will be essential to ensure that the Australian public reaps the benefits of this technology but is protected from its potential pitfalls.

The Committee is further recommending the establishment of a statutory Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. The Parliament needs to have fully effective oversight of how the Government and the APS is managing the impacts of AI.

I thank the Deputy Chair and other Committee members who participated in the inquiry. I also thank the many contributors to the inquiry and the Committee Secretariat for their professionalism in supporting the work of the Committee.

Hon Linda Burney MP

Chair