South Australia Launches Royal Commission Into Artificial Intelligence

The Government of South Australia has established a $3 million royal commission into artificial intelligence to determine how the technology should be regulated and utilized. Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the inquiry following a visit to the United States, where he met with executives from Apple and Anthropic and signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI president Greg Brockman.

Scheduled to begin in October 2026, the nine-month inquiry will employ three commissioners to gather evidence from experts, unions, and businesses. The commission will examine AI's impact on healthcare, education, the arts, and the public service. While the inquiry will not investigate data centers, Malinauskas views these facilities as essential customers for the state's renewable energy sector, which aims to be 100% net renewables by the end of next year. A final report is due by July 1, 2027.

Malinauskas described AI as an opportunity to advance humanity but warned that unchecked development represents a material risk to society and the future of work. This sentiment mirrors broader national anxieties in Australia, where some tech workers have faced layoffs due to AI-linked cuts, though a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations report suggests the broader job market remains strong.

In response to the state-level move, Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability Andrew Hastie has called for a separate parliamentary inquiry at the federal level. This marks the third forward-looking royal commission launched by Malinauskas to propose policy rather than investigate specific past incidents.