State of Play: How Australian States Are (Not) Governing AI

Related: This article examines state-level AI governance in Australia. For analysis of the Commonwealth’s AI governance failures, see Slop for the People. For context on the newly announced federal AI Safety Institute, see Australia’s AI Safety Institute: Lessons from the UK and US.

The Commonwealth government attracts most attention for its AI policies. State and territory governments are also deploying AI systems in education, health, policing, transport, and social services.

Each state governs AI differently. Some are ahead of the Commonwealth. Others barely engage with it. None do it well.