Australia: Digital Transformation Agency adopted technical standard for government’s use of Artificial Intelligence

On 31 July 2025, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) adopted the technical standard for the government’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to guide the safe and responsible use of AI across government systems. The standard applies to agencies developing or procuring AI-enabled products and services, including administrative decision-making tools, embedded AI systems, and public platforms. The standard covers the full AI lifecycle from procurement to deployment. It reinforces the Australian Government’s AI Ethics Principles and aligns with frameworks including the AI Assurance Framework and the Voluntary AI Safety Standard. The standard outlines ‘required’ and ‘recommended’ criteria to ensure compliance with legislation and ethical obligations and supports transparency, accountability, and risk management. It integrates with existing agency policies on data governance, cybersecurity, privacy, and procurement, and applies regardless of whether AI systems are developed in-house or externally sourced. The standard also defines roles and responsibilities across business, technical, and operational teams, and involves civil society, oversight bodies, and industry providers.