This playbook proposes that Australia faces a simple choice: it can be an artificial intelligence (AI) leader, or an AI follower. It presents a practical path forward built on three foundations – economic growth, security and setting up Australia as a world-leader in AI – to secure Australia’s prosperity in the AI era ahead. The 15 recommendations aren’t prescriptive mandates but starting points for how AI’s benefits are harnessed while managing its risks.

To expand on the National AI plan, the paper proposes a series of policies to support AI in Australia that don’t require significant government spending or heavy-handed regulation. Instead, it puts forward ways to leverage Australia’s natural advantages: an educated population, ample space, wealth, strong institutions and trusted international standing.

Key recommendations

• Incentivise AI investment through a targeted, time limited research and development, and adoption tax boost.
• Support and catalyse the development of AI-ready infrastructure, including data centres and compute capacity.
• Support AI skills import through a dedicated migration priority stream.
• Embed AI in Federal Government service delivery and procurement.
• Strengthen AI supply chain security.
• Ensure strategic data sovereignty.