# Australian Government Shapes AI Policy

Australia’s federal government is engaging with major AI firms as personnel move between government, industry and lobbying roles. Policy work includes AI committee hearings, copyright consultations, forthcoming national standards, and agency reviews of legacy systems and cyber defences. These processes may create near-term work for contractors, but the report identifies no issued solicitation, contract award, or procurement budget.

- Contractors with AI governance, standards, copyright, legacy-system assessment, or cybersecurity expertise may find relevant opportunities through the hearings, consultations, standards work, or agency reviews described.
- Companies can prepare evidence and technical input relevant to AI policy and copyright consultations; these activities are policy engagement, not announced procurements.
- Procurement teams should distinguish these prospective market signals from funded opportunities: no contract values, solicitation details, or award timelines are identified.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)
- Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs)
- Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence
- Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI)
- South Australia’s Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence

### Vendors
- Anthropic (AI technology provider engaging with the Australian Government)
- OpenAI (AI technology provider engaging with the Australian Government)
- Anacta Strategies (Government relations and lobbying firm engaged by Anthropic)
- SEC Newgate (Government relations firm engaged by Anthropic)
- Hanbury Strategy and Communications (Lobbying firm engaged by OpenAI)

### Sources
- [Exclusive: The former staffers influencing government on AI | The Saturday Paper](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2026/10/03/exclusive-former-staffers-influencing-government-ai) - The Saturday Paper