The Australian government discontinued its AI Advisory Body after 15 months of planning and recruitment, sparking concerns about the future of AI regulation in the country.
The Australian government's decision to scrap the AI Advisory Body came as a shock after 15 months of effort to identify experts to participate in it, at a substantial cost of nearly $200,000. This initiative was initiated under former industry minister Ed Husic, who had promised $21.6 million for the body in 2024 to develop 'AI guardrails' that would help ensure the safe use of artificial intelligence from the outset. The switch in leadership to Industry Minister Tim Ayres coincided with the abrupt cancellation of the already curated group of 12 nominees, which has raised concerns among experts regarding the government's commitment to regulating AI effectively.
With fears mounting that delays in regulation could hinder the capability to address potential harms posed by AI technologies, there are calls for urgency in establishing new frameworks for oversight. The planned creation of the AI Safety Institute, set to launch in early 2026, is a response to these challenges but highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding AI policy in Australia. The implications of this delayed progress raise critical questions about the readiness of the Australian government to manage the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and protect its society from related risks.
