Independent senator David Pocock has called for the introduction of an AI safety act following a recent breach involving an AI agent, saying the incident raises serious questions about Australia's approach to artificial intelligence regulation.
Call for government action
Speaking on the ABC's Afternoon Briefing, Pocock said the incident demonstrated the need for the government to act. He noted that experts have long warned about the risks.
“This is not a new problem. For many years now experts have been saying we need action on this. The crossbench has been pushing them. The government then said, 'we'll have some guardrails, we'll put them on a website' … that's not enough. Clearly it's not. This is a huge challenge facing us,” he said.
Crossbench pressure
The senator's comments highlight ongoing pressure from the crossbench for stronger regulation, with the government's previous approach of publishing guardrails online deemed insufficient.
The breach has reignited debate over how Australia handles AI oversight, with Pocock insisting that a dedicated safety act is necessary.
