On 10 August 2026, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced Australia’s first Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence (Commission). The Commission is expected to commence on 1 October 2026, with a final report due to government no later than 1 July 2027. As the first Royal Commission of its kind, its findings and recommendations are likely to become a blueprint for national AI policy debate.

What will the Royal Commission examine?

The Commission's Terms of Reference are expected to focus on the economic and social opportunities and challenges that AI will bring to South Australia. There will be a particular emphasis on:

• policy and regulation: both at a state and national level
• education: impacts and opportunities for schools, higher education and vocational training
• public services: impacts and opportunities for state-provided services, including healthcare
• skills and workforce: impacts and opportunities for South Australia’s labour market
• AI-related infrastructure: including the interrelationship with energy transformation, water usage and electricity grid implications.

The Commission is intended to propose forward-looking policy solutions, rather than examine issues retrospectively from a legal perspective. The Commission will hear evidence and receive submissions from a broad cross-section of the community, including businesses, industry bodies, unions, technology developers, academics, independent experts and representatives of creative industries.

Who is likely to be affected?

Given the breadth of the Terms of Reference, the Commission’s findings and recommendations could affect a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• businesses deploying or developing AI: particularly those in technology, data analytics and automation
• employers: organisations across all sectors managing workforce transitions, capability uplift and AI adoption
• education and training providers: universities, TAFEs and private providers facing new expectations around AI literacy and curriculum
• health and public service providers: government agencies and private contractors exploring the use of AI in service delivery
• data centre operators and energy companies: organisations supporting the infrastructure and energy demands associated with AI growth
• creative industries: businesses and creators responding to unique challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI technologies.

What should you be doing now?

Authored by: Mitchell Wright, Partner and Precious Guma, Graduate.

Contact our team of experts to discuss how the Commission may affect your business.