Senate Estimates Briefing Dashboard

Mandate

The Government is establishing a new whole-of-APS function led by the Department of Finance: AI Delivery and Enablement (AIDE). AIDE is designed to help agencies move from promising trials to real-world impact with confidence. Finance

Role and Function

Senator Gallagher described AIDE as “a multidisciplinary expert group helping guide agencies to overcome common barriers, share lessons, and accelerate adoption.” Media Release

• Coordinate the adoption of AI and fast-track priority use cases across the APS Finance
• Work with and coordinate Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) across agencies to drive safe and responsible adoption Finance
• Help agencies overcome common adoption barriers and share use cases for re-use across government digital.gov.au
• Complement rather than replace existing agency structures digital.gov.au

Funding

Finance was allocated $28.9 million over four years from 2025-26 “to establish a central AI delivery and enablement function” in the 2025-26 MYEFO. iTnews Canberra Times

Relationship to AIDE and GovAI

Taken together, AIDE and GovAI represent a deliberate shift from ad hoc exploration to coordinated, responsible adoption across the APS. Finance

Overview

The AI Plan for the Australian Public Service was released on 12 November 2025 by the Minister for Finance at the Annual Statement of APS Reform. It guides the safe, responsible, and coordinated adoption of AI across the APS. Media Release

The Plan is jointly implemented by the Department of Finance, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC). digital.gov.au

Three Pillars

The Plan is structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars. Each pillar’s success is vital to the others: skilled people and clear policies are needed to use new AI tools effectively, and the tools and experiences gained will inform ongoing policy refinement. digital.gov.au

Projected Impact

By 2030, AI adoption could lift public sector gross value added by 13 per cent, delivering $19 billion in annual value. Finance

The Productivity Commission assesses that broader AI adoption could drive up to 4.3% labour productivity growth over the next decade in the market sector (around $116 billion in GDP). digital.gov.au

What is GovAI

GovAI is a centrally hosted, whole-of-government service designed to uplift AI capability across the APS. It is operated by the Department of Finance and provides secure, Australian-based infrastructure for APS staff, teams and agencies to learn about, experiment with, and apply AI tools. govai.gov.au

The Minister for Finance agreed to the GovAI pilot in May 2024, to help deliver strategic aims in uplifting AI capability across the APS. govai.gov.au

Platform Capabilities

• Vendor-agnostic model access — agencies can access a diverse range of AI models, including an onshore instance of OpenAI’s GPT models and Anthropic’s Claude govai.gov.au
• Model Brokerage — a secure government gateway providing API access to approved AI models (e.g. GPT-4o, Claude) without agencies managing infrastructure govai.gov.au
• Cloud environments — dedicated Microsoft Azure or AWS subscriptions for agencies to build and deploy AI applications govai.gov.au
• Demonstration apps — including the Knowledge Assistant (RAG-based procurement Q&A) and Assessment Assistant govai.gov.au
• Interactive Learning Environment — a secure space for APS staff to learn how to use generative AI safely and ethically govai.gov.au

Sovereign Model Hosting

Anthropic’s Claude is set to become the next locally hosted AI model available through GovAI, as Finance pursues a technology-agnostic approach. Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Marcel Gabriel stated: “We want to be able to separate the model instances, from orchestration and management through to interface. So, as time goes on, we will bring as many as we can on board.” InnovationAus

GovAI Chat

GovAI Chat is a secure, government-controlled generative AI tool developed specifically for the APS. It is designed to operate within Australian Government infrastructure, ensuring all data remains within Australia and under government control, and to meet the highest standards of security and compliance including the Protective Security Policy Framework. govai.gov.au

Senator Gallagher stated: “The goal is for every public servant to have access to secure, supportive generative AI directly from their desktop or laptop through the GovAI platform, and through the staged development of GovAI Chat.” Canberra Times

Rollout Timeline

Access

GovAI services require a GovTEAMS account. The service is currently available to all APS employees through an open trial. State and territory governments, corporate Commonwealth entities, and external partners are not currently eligible. govai.gov.au

Finance-Administered AI Funding

The 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) allocated $225.2 million over four years from 2025-26 for AI adoption across the APS, with a further $0.4 million per year from 2029-30. Canberra Times iTnews

Note: Separate allocations for AI training and workforce approach were provided to the APSC and DTA ($22.1m). iTnews The Department of Industry, Science and Resources received $30m for an AI Safety Institute. Canberra Times

Gated Funding Model

Of the funding, $28.5 million is immediately available to Finance and the DTA. A further $137.9 million will be provided over a two-year period beginning from 2026-27, pending development of a business case and further assessments. Canberra Times iTnews

Key Policy Instruments

Chief AI Officers (CAIOs)

Agencies are required to appoint one of their existing senior leadership team as a Chief AI Officer by July 2026. CAIOs must hold an APS rank of at least SES Band 1. Finance

While AI Accountable Officials enable their agencies to adopt AI responsibly by providing governance frameworks, Chief AI Officers lead the transformation by identifying opportunities and driving cultural change. Finance

AI Review Committee

The DTA is establishing an AI Review Committee comprised of APS experts to provide non-binding advice on sensitive and high-risk AI deployments across the APS. The DTA is continuing to finalise the terms of reference, with further details expected in Q1 2026. digital.gov.au DTA

Applicable Policy Framework

The Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (v2.0) is mandatory for all non-corporate Commonwealth entities. It is structured around the “Enable, Engage, and Evolve” framework, with requirements covering strategy and oversight, preparedness and operations, and AI use case impact assessment. digital.gov.au

Mandatory Training

The AI in Government Fundamentals course is mandatory for all APS staff. It provides foundational knowledge of AI, the principles of safe and responsible use, and how to apply them in the APS. Agencies are required to monitor and report completion rates. APS Academy

The APS AI Plan sets out 15 initiatives across an 18-month timeframe, broadly aligned with two overarching milestones through to July 2026 and beyond. digital.gov.au

Source: APS AI Plan 2025 — What we plan to achieve (digital.gov.au). Note: The APS AI Plan identifies a further initiative, “New whole-of-government cloud policy” (November 2025 – March 2026), listed under Tools. digital.gov.au

National AI Plan

The National AI Plan was released on 2 December 2025 by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It sets out the Government’s plan to grow the AI industry in Australia, structured around three pillars: Capture the opportunity, Spread the benefits, and Keep Australians safe. DISR

The APS AI Plan complements the National AI Plan. The APS AI Plan focuses on government adoption; the National AI Plan addresses economy-wide AI policy. Media Release

Shift from Mandatory Guardrails

The Government previously proposed mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI systems. With the National AI Plan, this approach was replaced by a two-pronged strategy: uplifting and clarifying existing technology-neutral laws, and issuing guidance to promote responsible practices. There will be no standalone AI Act. DISR Piper Alderman

AI Safety Institute

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources has been allocated $30 million over four years to establish an AI Safety Institute (AISI). The AISI will strengthen testing, evaluation and oversight of advanced AI systems, coordinate with regulators, and support risk-based regulation. Canberra Times DISR

AI6 Governance Practices

On 21 October 2025, the National AI Centre released updated Guidance for AI Adoption, articulating the “AI6” — six essential governance practices for AI developers and deployers. These replace the earlier Voluntary AI Safety Standard and establish a practical baseline for responsible AI use in Australia. MinterEllison

Economic Reform Context

Making AI a national priority was a key outcome from the Economic Reform Roundtable in August 2025. Media Release

All factual claims in this dashboard are drawn from the following publicly available documents and reports. Each claim is individually linked to its source throughout the document.

Primary Government Sources

1. AI Plan for the Australian Public Service 2025 — digital.gov.au (DTA)
2. APS AI Plan 2025 — What we plan to achieve — digital.gov.au (DTA)
3. APS AI Plan 2025 — Tools — digital.gov.au (DTA)
4. APS AI Plan 2025 — People — digital.gov.au (DTA)
5. APS AI Plan 2025 (PDF) — digital.gov.au
6. Whole of Government AI Plan released — Media Release — Minister for Finance (12 Nov 2025)
7. Introducing the APS AI Plan — Department of Finance
8. AIDE and GovAI: moving from experimentation to impact across the APS — Department of Finance
9. Establishing Chief AI Officers for the APS — Department of Finance
10. GovAI launches for all APS, delivered by Finance — Department of Finance
11. About GovAI — govai.gov.au
12. GovAI Apps — govai.gov.au
13. Build with GovAI — govai.gov.au
14. GovAI Homepage — govai.gov.au
15. Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (v2.0) — digital.gov.au (DTA)
16. New policy for the use of AI in government — Media Release — Minister for Finance (15 Aug 2024)
17. National Framework for the Assurance of AI in Government — Department of Finance
18. AI Policy overhauled with new Impact Assessment Tool and Procurement Guidance — DTA
19. AI in Government Fundamentals course — APS Academy (APSC)
20. National AI Plan — Department of Industry, Science and Resources (2 Dec 2025)

Reporting and Analysis

21. Gov backs its own AI adoption with $225m — iTnews
22. Federal chief AI officer roles set to go to existing APS staffers — iTnews
23. Funding boost in MYEFO for federal government’s AI systems — The Canberra Times
24. Finance leaves GovAI door ajar to sovereign models — InnovationAus (8 Sep 2025)
25. Australia now has a National AI Plan. Now What? — Piper Alderman
26. Australia introduces a national AI plan: Four things leaders need to know — MinterEllison