Does Labor support AI safety?
Labor says it is "focused on legislative options" for mandatory AI guardrails with plans to announce more "soon," but hasn't committed to a specific Australian AI Act. They claim the Department of Industry, Science and Resources AI division "acts as our AI Safety Institute," which is difficult to evaluate since other countries have established dedicated institutes with specific technical capacity. Labor hasn't detailed how the Department sufficiently performs core AISI functions, leaving their support for a well-resourced, independent institute in doubt.
Their score on expert-recommended AI safety policies
Over 356 experts, public figures, and concerned citizens endorsed these policies in their open letter before the 2025 election.
AI Safety Institute
A well-resourced, independent technical body to assess AI risks and advise on safety standards.
Australian Labor Party has an unclear position
Notes: Labor claims that the Department of Industry, working with the National AI Centre (NAIC), is Australia's AI Safety Institute. This contrasts with international AISIs, which are typically new, independent, technically-focused bodies. The NAIC’s mandate is AI adoption, not frontier safety. Key indicators of a functional AISI such as dedicated technical staff, specific funding, evaluation capabilities (e.g., model testing, compute resources) appear absent and unplanned. This makes Labor's position ambiguous regarding genuine support for a well-resourced safety institute.
Mandatory Guardrails
A dedicated AI Act with mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI systems will both protect Australians and create the certainty businesses need to innovate.
Australian Labor Party partially supports
Notes: Labor says it's focused on legislative options around mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI, harmonised with international best practices. Labor said on 15 April, “We will have more to say about next steps soon.” While this suggests an Australian AI Act is a possibility, it leaves the door open to letting existing regulators handle AI on a piecemeal basis.
Contact Information
Email: National.secretary@cbr.alp.org.au
Website: https://www.alp.org.au
Contact Address
PO Box 6222, KINGSTON, ACT 2604