Portfolio — 18 March 2026

The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Mr Gorman, declared that artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical and that every public servant must acquire new AI skills to maintain the public service's licence to operate [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11]. The media release positions AI adoption as an immediate operational challenge for the Australian Public Service rather than a future consideration [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11].

Mr Gorman outlined the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Policy for the Responsible Use of AI, which mandates that all APS values apply to generative AI and that officers remain personally accountable for AI outputs [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11]. The policy establishes that individual public servants cannot delegate responsibility for AI-generated content to the tools themselves [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11].

The portfolio frames the transition to an AI-enhanced public service as a leadership and cultural challenge where trust, accountability, and the creation of the Chief AI Officer role are central to ensuring safe and responsible innovation [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11]. The Chief AI Officer position represents a structural commitment to embedding AI governance at a senior level within the public service [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11].

The release signals the government's intent to move from AI policy deliberation to implementation, with the Assistant Minister tying workforce capability directly to the public service's institutional legitimacy [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11]. The emphasis on personal accountability and APS values suggests the government's approach prioritises risk management alongside innovation [TA-260318-pmc-6049ff69ae11].