AI Policy and Governance Newsletter — July 2024
Three concurrent AI governance developments—including a live cross-jurisdictional assurance framework—directly affect how APS agencies implement and oversee AI.
Key points
- Australian federal, state, and territorial governments jointly released an AI assurance framework now in force.
- Australia criminalised creation and sharing of non-consensual sexual deepfake images, with legislation before Parliament.
- Newsletter commentary notes the assurance framework does not meaningfully advance beyond 2022 ethical principles.
Summary
The Good Ancestors July 2024 newsletter covers three notable AI policy developments. Australian federal, state, and territorial governments released a joint AI assurance framework grounded in principles including human-centred values, privacy, and transparency—now in force. The Commonwealth also introduced legislation to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfake imagery, following school-based incidents. Internationally, California is advancing legislation requiring safety testing for AI models costing over USD $100 million to train. Commentary flags that the Australian assurance framework may face practical implementation challenges and does not explicitly address proportionate safety risk management.
Implications for Australian agencies
- Consider APS agencies implementing AI solutions could review the joint assurance framework to assess alignment with existing internal governance and the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government.
- Monitor Agencies involved in online safety or AI regulation policy may want to monitor the progress of the non-consensual deepfake legislation through Parliament.
- Monitor Policy teams tracking international AI regulation could watch California's model safety testing bill as a potential template for frontier-model governance approaches.
Implications are AI-generated. Starting points, not advice.
"AI Policy and Governance Newsletter — July 2024" Source: Good Ancestors – AI Policy & Governance Newsletter Published: (undated) URL: https://www.goodancestors.org.au/newsletter/2024-07 The Good Ancestors July 2024 newsletter covers three notable AI policy developments. Australian federal, state, and territorial governments released a joint AI assurance framework grounded in principles including human-centred values, privacy, and transparency—now in force. The Commonwealth also introduced legislation to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfake imagery, following school-based incidents. Internationally, California is advancing legislation requiring safety testing for AI models costing over USD $100 million to train. Commentary flags that the Australian assurance framework may face practical implementation challenges and does not explicitly address proportionate safety risk management. Implications for Australian agencies: - [Consider] APS agencies implementing AI solutions could review the joint assurance framework to assess alignment with existing internal governance and the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government. - [Monitor] Agencies involved in online safety or AI regulation policy may want to monitor the progress of the non-consensual deepfake legislation through Parliament. - [Monitor] Policy teams tracking international AI regulation could watch California's model safety testing bill as a potential template for frontier-model governance approaches. Retrieved from SIMS, 18 May 2026.