Joint Media Release - Labor’s Secrecy Culture Extends to AI: Government Fails to Lead by Example on New Technology

The Hon Alex Hawke MP

Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Manager of Opposition Business in the House

Member for Mitchell

Senator James Paterson
Shadow Minister for Finance

Shadow Minister for the Public Service

Shadow Minister for Government Services

Senator for Victoria

MEDIA RELEASE

Labor’s Secrecy Culture Extends to AI: Government Fails to Lead by Example on New Technology

The Albanese Labor Government’s secrecy and inertia now extends to Artificial Intelligence (AI), with analysis undertaken by researchers from the University of Sydney revealing that most Commonwealth agencies have failed to comply with their own AI transparency rules.

The analysis found that despite a policy on the responsible use of AI in government requiring all federal agencies to publish “AI transparency statements” by February 2025, fewer than half have done so — and many of those that exist are buried deep within government websites, impossible for the public to find.

Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon Alex Hawke MP said:

“This Government promised integrity and transparency but delivers bureaucracy and excuses,” Mr Hawke said.

“If the Government can’t even tell Australians where and how it is using artificial intelligence, how can anyone trust it to regulate or encourage innovation across the economy?

“There is now a pattern with this government of continually resisting scrutiny and treating transparency as an inconvenience rather than an obligation.

“Whether it’s blocking freedom-of-information requests, or now hiding how AI is being used in public administration, the message is clear: Labor talks about innovation but operates like a closed shop.

“The Albanese Labor Government must take steps to ensure that all Commonwealth agencies that are required to maintain publicly accessible AI transparency statements do so as a matter of urgency.”

Shadow Minister for the Public Service, Senator James Paterson added:

“Six months past the deadline, most agencies are ignoring the policy and the government is letting them get away with it.

“This so-called ‘soft-touch’ approach has become a ‘no-touch’ failure.

“In a field as critical as AI, the public deserves real accountability, not complacency.”

This failure reflects a wider pattern of control and secrecy identified by the Opposition Leader earlier this month, especially in relation to the Government’s proposed changes to FOI laws.

ENDS