Easy summary: Australia does not have one workplace AI Act. Existing privacy, workplace relations, safety, discrimination, surveillance, consumer, intellectual-property and cyber rules may apply, while national AI documents have different legal status.
| Instrument | Status at 27 Oct 2026 | Who or what it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Act 1988 and APPs | Commonwealth legislation. APP 1.7–1.9 commence 10 Dec 2026. | APP entities; coverage and exceptions must be checked. |
| Fair Work Act, awards and agreements | Legislation and enforceable industrial instruments. | Consultation can apply to major workplace change; the applicable instrument matters. |
| WHS/OHS laws | Commonwealth, state and territory legislation. | Model WHS laws apply in most jurisdictions; Victoria has OHS laws. Local regulator guidance matters. |
| National AI Plan | Australian Government plan launched 2 Dec 2025; not legislation. | National policy direction. |
| Guidance for AI Adoption | Voluntary government guidance with six essential practices. | Organisations adopting AI; not a compliance certificate. |
| Frontier AI infrastructure standards work | Policy development and proposals, not enacted general AI law. | Check current consultation and later instruments. |
Sources and currency
Jurisdiction: Australia. Currency: Sources checked 27 October 2026. Legislation is binding where it applies; regulator and government material is guidance unless stated otherwise. Standards and recommended governance practices are not legislation. Check the instrument, jurisdiction and facts that apply to you.
- OAIC Australian Privacy Principles guidance
- OAIC APP 1 guidance including automated-decision transparency
- Fair Work Ombudsman consultation and cooperation guide
- Fair Work Commission awards and agreements information
- Safe Work Australia AI and digital technologies guidance
- Australian Government National AI Plan
- National AI Centre Guidance for AI Adoption
- PM&C consultation on AI infrastructure and frontier AI standards