February 2025
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) is subject to the Australian Government's Policy for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government (the Policy). The Policy was developed as part of the Government's interim response to consultations on safe and responsible AI in Australia. This included a commitment to creating a regulatory environment that builds community trust, promotes innovation and adoption, while balancing critical social and economic policy goals.
The department maintains this Transparency Statement in compliance with the Policy. This Transparency Statement outlines the Department's approach to AI adoption and is consistent with the standard for AI transparency statements released by the Digital Transformation Agency (Transparency statements | digital.gov.au). The purpose of this statement is to outline how AI may be used in the department, how it is currently being used and the situations in which someone interacting with the department may be impacted by AI.
AI is increasingly becoming a valuable technology with the capacity to enhance productivity and support staff in their daily tasks. The department's approved AI application is a digital assistant in Webex which, according to the classification system for AI use the department, is in the Corporate and Enabling domain and the Workplace Productivity usage pattern. The department investigates using AI applications in the Analytics for Insights usage pattern.
When engaging with the department, you will be interacting with people. The purpose of adopting AI applications for departmental use is to increase the efficiency and productivity of our staff, not replace human interactions. Information provided to the department is handled in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 and departmental policies.
The Chief Data Officer is the accountable official for AI in the department and is supported by an internal committee with broad representation to assist in guiding implementation of departmental AI governance and monitoring current and emerging systems to ensure AI is used in a safe, ethical and effective way.
Staff are required to uphold ethical and legislative requirements to make sure the department uses AI responsibly and the department ensures that information about the Policy and the use of AI is available and communicated regularly. If applications are approved, information regarding the approved AI software and suitable uses will be recorded in an internal register that staff can access. Departmental AI, data and IT policies are available to staff on the intranet and staff are required to undergo training prior to using AI technologies.
This Transparency Statement will be updated annually or if the department makes significant changes on the approach to AI.
If you have any questions about the statement, please contact us.