The Federal Government this week launched its National AI Plan, setting the stage for how Australia will harness artificial intelligence to drive productivity, innovation and safety. The plan has three priorities:
- Capturing the opportunity: building smart infrastructure, backing Australian AI capability and attracting investment, including developing Data Centre Principles, expanding the NBN and support for businesses to adapt and adopt.
- Spread the benefits: scaling AI adoption, supporting and training Australians, and improving public services, including a National Skills Agreement.
- Keep Australians safe: mitigating the harms, promoting responsible business practices and partnering on global norms, including guidance for AI adoption, and observing international commitments.
For Queensland businesses it’s a roadmap for competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Our 2025 Digital Future of Work Report, supported by Australian Retirement Trust, shows Queensland businesses are already feeling the pressure to adapt but 73% only have a basic understanding of AI and its applications, and only 3% consider themselves experts. Despite this, a quarter of Queensland businesses think it’s likely digital and AI will replace employees in the next five years, up from 15% in 2024.
Here’s what you need to know about the National AI Plan:
1. Skills will make or break AI adoption
The plan emphasizes a National Skills Agreement and practical support for AI adoption. Our report found digital skills gaps are a barrier to transformation, and 51.61% of businesses had a strong or critical need for new skills and staff retraining to cope with technological change. AI won’t succeed without people who can use it effectively.
Action point: Invest in workforce upskilling now. Look for programs aligned with the National Skills Agreement and consider partnerships with local training providers.
2. Safety and trust are non-negotiable
The Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI) has strong focus on responsible AI. While AISI isn’t a regulator, it will guide best practices and monitor risks. Our research shows close to a quarter of Queensland businesses had problems understanding rapid advances in AI, but 53% said they were mostly keeping up.
Tip: Start building internal AI governance frameworks. Transparency and accountability will be key differentiators.
3. AI will reshape jobs and the future of work
Both the government plan and our research agree: AI will change roles, not only replace them. Expect repetitive tasks to be automated, freeing employees for higher-value work. In Queensland, sectors like agriculture, tourism, and health stand to gain from AI-driven efficiencies. Our report shows 51.61% of businesses had a strong or critical need for new skills and staff retraining to cope with technological change while 35.95% expected a shift in task descriptions and job requirements for existing roles.
Opportunity: Identify tasks that can be automated and redeploy talent to customer experience, innovation, and growth areas.
4. Global standards are coming, get ahead of compliance
Australia is aligning with international AI standards. This means future regulations will likely reflect what’s already happening in global business markets. Businesses that adopt responsible AI practices early will avoid costly compliance later.
Next step: Audit your data practices and AI tools now. Ensure they meet emerging privacy, security, and ethical standards.
Businesses that act now will lead. For Queensland businesses, the combination of the right skills and rolls, risk protections and infrastructure upgrades is an opportunity to future-proof operations.
