An updated policy for the responsible use of AI in government has come into effect, strengthening how agencies across the Australian Public Service govern the technology, according to the Digital Transformation Agency.
The refreshed policy, in force from December 2025, reinforces safeguards intended to support safe, transparent and trusted adoption — including clearer accountability for where and how agencies deploy AI systems.
It matters because government is one of the largest single buyers and users of software in the country. How the public service handles AI sets a template that flows through to the contractors, vendors and citizens who deal with it.
Why it matters
Public trust is the asset at stake. Every time an agency uses an AI tool to triage a claim, draft a letter or flag a case, a citizen is affected — often without knowing it. Transparency requirements are how that trust is kept.
The policy also gives vendors a clearer bar to clear. Companies selling into government now have a defined governance standard to meet, which should reward those who build accountability in from the start.
The test will be enforcement. A strong policy is only as good as the reporting and review that sits behind it, and that is where the public service’s record on technology has been uneven.
Sources: Digital Transformation Agency
