Transparency, Strategy and Governance

Question

On 15 December 2025, version 2.0 of the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (the policy) came into effect. A series of new requirements for most Commonwealth agencies and departments was imposed. A. In response to a question on notice asked during SBE25-26 with portfolio question number F292, DTA advised that ''''[a]gencies must update their [AI transparency] statement at least once a year, or sooner if there is a significant change to the agency's approach to AI or new factors that materially impact the existing statement's accuracy...If an agency has not updated its transparency statement since February 2025, it will need to do so in February 2026.'''' 1. Given this, has the agency/department updated their AI transparency statement since it was published? a. If this was updated, what date/s did the agency/department update their AI transparency statement? b. If the agency/department did not update their AI transparency statement within the 12 month window as required, why not?Was the agency/department aware of this requirement? c. If not, why was the agency/department unaware of this requirement? d. If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one. B. The policy specifies that the agency/department must develop a strategic position on AI adoption by 15 June 2026 to emphasise how AI opportunities can be identified and embraced by the agency/department. 1. Did the agency/department develop a strategic position on AI adoption by 15 June 2026? a. If not, why did the agency/department miss the deadline? b. Has the agency/department developed a strategy, to date? 2. If a strategic position has been developed, what is the agency's/department's strategy? a. Has this strategy been communicated with the agency's/department's staff? i. On what date, and how was it communicated? ii. If not, why not? If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one. C. The policy requires accountable officials (AOs, appointed as part of the first version of the policy) to oversee the agency's/department's compliance with the policy. It requires AOs to respond to Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) requests for information and engage in whole-of-government AI forums and processes. Has the AO for the agency/department received any information requests from DTA? If yes, for each such information request, identify: 1. the information sought, 2. the date of the request, 3. the date the AO responded, 4. whether any follow-up was required (and, if so, the date that the request was considered by the AO to be complied with). If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one. D. The policy requires accountable officials (AOs, appointed as part of the first version of the policy) to oversee the agency's/department's compliance with the policy. It requires AOs to respond to Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) requests for information and engage in whole-of-government AI forums and processes. Has the AO for the agency/department been invited to participate in any whole-of-government AI forums or processes? If yes, identify: 1. the date and subject of each such forum/process, 2. whether the AO engaged with the forum/process and, 3. if the AO did not engage with the forum/process, an explanation as to why not. If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one.

Answer

See the attached response.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• BI-261_Hume_Transparency (opens in a new tab)