Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher

The Albanese Labor Government has today launched the AI Plan for the Australian Public Service (APS), marking a new era for the delivery of public services to Australians.

Announced at the Annual Statement of APS Reform, this Plan will guide the safe, responsible, and coordinated adoption of AI and drive uptake across government.

These investments in AI will give every public servant the confidence and access to use AI, drive productivity, and ensure the APS leads on the economy-wide transformations that generative AI is driving.

Under the Plan, every federal public servant will have:

• Access to generative AI tools
• Comprehensive training and capability support
• Clear guidance on how to use these tools safely and responsibly
• Leadership and support from new Chief AI Officers to promote adoption

Trust from public servants and the broader public will be essential as the plan is implemented – including knowing what AI can and can’t be used for, managing risks, and clearly communicating when AI is used in government’s work.

The Government’s Plan will also:

• Expand the GovAI platform and establish Gov AI Chat to provide APS staff with secure, in-house AI tools
• Establish the AI Delivery and Enablement (AIDE) team to coordinate adoption and fast-track priority use cases
• Invest in our workforce to manage AI-driven changes in job design, skills, and mobility
• Create an AI Review Committee to provide expert advice on higher risk uses of AI

The goal is for every public servant to have access to secure generative AI directly from their laptop through the GovAI platform, and through our own development of a Gov AI Chat.

This will mean we have a government-based platform that avoids vendor lock-in and allows us to adopt emerging technologies and solution, including from Australian businesses and innovators.

GovAI will include a use-case library and a vendor agnostic platform with a model selection option based on need, enabling agencies to access a diverse range of AI models for their own development.

Through GovAI Chat, all public servants will have access to secure generative AI tools that leverage government data. Responses will be fast, up-to-date, and auditable, delivered through familiar and secure interfaces.

The Plan recognises the critical role that staff will play in this process, and makes clear our commitment to ongoing and genuine consultation with staff and unions. To support this, the Australian Public Service Commission will issue guidance setting clear standards for consultation on AI-related workplace changes.

The Government looks forward to collaborating with the Australian technology and IT industry to realise this vision, consistent with our Buy Australia Plan and Future Made in Australia policy objectives.

Making AI a national priority was a key outcome from the Economic Reform Roundtable in August. The APS AI Plan will complement the upcoming National AI Plan that will be delivered by Minister Ayres before the end of 2025.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher:

The Albanese Government is committed to demonstrating the highest standards of safe and ethical use of AI in the APS. Accelerating AI adoption is essential to strengthen Australia’s economic resilience and boost productivity, and implementing AI across the APS ensures it will help to lead the economy-wide transformation.

Trust, both from public servants and the broader public, is our license to operate. The APS AI Plan puts strong governance and transparency at its core, ensuring human oversight is always present.

AI adoption across the APS is not about replacing people. It’s about unlocking new capabilities while ensuring our people are focused on the work that requires human insight, empathy, and judgment.

We’re imagining a public service that doesn’t just respond to people’s needs, but anticipates them, working seamlessly around their busy lives. The APS AI Plan is built on the strong foundations of APS reform and reflects the values of a public service committed to integrity, transparency.