AI used in public service and federal agencies faces new rules under national plan to make system fairer

Artificial intelligence used in automated decision-making by the public service and federal agencies will face new rules under a national plan designed to make the system fairer and more transparent.

The federal government has revealed a set of AI safety priorities that touch on privacy, consumer protections and developing a framework for automated decision-making.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s major speech last week on the government’s plan to introduce AI policy guardrails.

The public service and Australia’s agencies are increasingly using AI for automated decision making as advocates raise concerns the emerging technology could displace human oversight.

Industry Minister Tim Ayres said Attorney-General Michelle Rowland will be working across government to make sure there’s transparency and a clear code of practice that applies right across the public service.

“What we want to make sure that’s done in a way where there’s always a person and responsibility in the chain of decision making, where it’s providing better and fairer services for Australians,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.

“Australians can have confidence when they’re dealing with government, they’re getting a better service and they’re getting a fairer service.”

Labor will also be looking to make sure that the laws, regulators and institutions are effectively protecting consumers.

“AI safety, in particular, in the workplace ... consumer law and retail surveillance pricing. All of those areas are impacted potentially by artificial intelligence,” Senator Ayres said.

“This is the Albanese government making sure that artificial intelligence is safe for Australians, and that its adoption is in the national interest.”

The illegal and flawed robodebt scheme unveiled shortcomings in the use of automated processes.

Asked if the scheme had demonstrated the need for human intervention, Senator Ayres said the government wanted to ensure the technologies were being applied fairly.

“That’s about using artificial intelligence in our interest, in the national interest, but also making sure that Australians can have faith and confidence in this technology, and they understand that government is taking responsibility for delivering these services to all Australians fairly and in the national interest,” he said.

Digital Rights Watch welcomed the AI plan, with its founder Lizzie O’Shea saying privacy needed to be prioritised.

“Australia’s privacy law has undergone a years-long review and the government has already agreed to a number of reforms,” she said.

“It is high time these were implemented, so we are pleased to see this as a priority focus for the government in the context of AI.”