Governance

AI transparency statement

Public disclosure describing an agency's approach to AI.

How the laws define this

Both the Standard for AI transparency statements and the DTA AI Policy Update - Impact Assessment Tool and Procurement Guidance agree that an AI transparency statement is a public-facing disclosure detailing how agencies or government services use AI, alongside accountability and harm mitigation measures. Both instruments position the document as an accessible tool to explain AI deployment openly to the public. They diverge, however, in their scope and regulatory framing. The Standard for AI transparency statements defines broad agency obligations, emphasizing plain-language accessibility, comparability across agencies, monitoring arrangements, and update schedules requiring revisions at least annually or upon material changes. By contrast, the DTA AI Policy Update - Impact Assessment Tool and Procurement Guidance frames the statement as a specific disclosure required by that Standard, focusing on where AI is used in government services, the nature and materiality of the use, and the explicit goal of promoting contestability for affected stakeholders.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Australia	Standard for AI transparency statements	In Force	This definition specifies plain language explanations of AI adoption, management, purpose, limitations, public impacts, governance, monitoring, and harm mitigation steps, plus accessibility, comparability, and annual updates.
Australia	DTA AI Policy Update - Impact Assessment Tool and Procurement Guidance	In Force	This definition limits the statement to describing AI use locations in government services, materiality, and accountability/mitigation measures to promote openness and contestability.

What it triggers

In Australia, the Standard for AI transparency statements sets out guidance for non-corporate Commonwealth entities to publish AI disclosures.source
Under Australia's DTA AI Policy Update, the policy sets out guidance for non-corporate Commonwealth entities to complete risk assessments for AI use cases.source

Definitions (2)

A public disclosure published by an agency that explains, in plain language, how the agency adopts and manages AI systems, the intended purpose and limitations, likely public impacts, governance and monitoring arrangements, and steps taken to mitigate harm. The statement is intended to be accessible, comparable across agencies, and updated at least annually or when material changes occur.

Standard for AI transparency statementsDefinition 1 of 2

A public-facing disclosure, required by the Standard for AI transparency statements, that describes where and how AI is used in government services, the nature and materiality of the use, and relevant accountability and mitigation measures to promote openness and contestability for affected stakeholders.

DTA AI Policy Update - Impact Assessment Tool and Procurement GuidanceDefinition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Transparency report / Impact report

A transparency report or impact report describes AI system function and risks in general, while these definitions specify agency disclosures on AI use under Australian instruments.

Policy for Responsible Use of AI in Government

The policy for Responsible Use of AI in Government is the broader Australian policy mandating safe AI use, while these definitions focus on the required public disclosures it references.

Questions and answers

What must an AI transparency statement include under Australian standards?

It explains in plain language how the agency adopts and manages AI systems, their purpose and limitations, public impacts, governance, monitoring, and harm mitigation. It is intended to be accessible, comparable, and updated annually or on material changes.

Who needs to publish an AI transparency statement in Australia?

Non-corporate Commonwealth entities are to publish these disclosures under the Standard for AI transparency statements.