Experts tell Australia's AI inquiry the AI Safety Institute is under-resourced

AI researchers told the Australian Parliament's Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, at its Canberra hearing on 16 October, that the Australian AI Safety Institute does not have the resources to be taken seriously internationally, as reported by The Nightly. According to The Nightly, researcher Janet Egan, appearing in a personal capacity, said: "I don't think Australia's AI Safety Institute is currently resourced enough to be taken seriously on the international stage," adding: "The $7.5 million figure is nothing compared to what other countries are throwing at this." A spokesman for Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said the government was providing $29.8 million in funding for the newly established institute, which he said has begun safety testing of AI models. Dr Sam Winter-Levy, who works with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and also appeared in a personal capacity, said hosting large-scale computing could give Australia leverage to secure access to frontier models, but that moving quickly depends on faster permitting, grid connections and a social licence to operate. The committee's hearings page lists further public hearings in Sydney on 20 and 21 October and in Melbourne on 22 October; the 16 October transcript was not yet available. The committee must report by 30 November 2026.

What it means for business: the evidence feeds into the committee's 30 November report, which may make recommendations on AI safety oversight and on approvals for data centres; businesses following Australia's approach may want to watch the remaining hearings.