In a keynote delivered at the inaugural Australian Law Forum 2025, Commonwealth Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said having confidence in generative artificial intelligence starts with a regulatory environment that promotes technological innovation.
Reflecting on the start of her legal career, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said judgments becoming digital was “particularly revolutionary” for young lawyers at the time, who no longer needed to spend “inordinate amounts of time” with a photocopier.
Following years of “rapid” technological development, including the creation of ChatGPT in November 2022, Rowland said she now marvels at the possibility young Australians are presented with.
It is these possibilities the government “seeks to crystallise”, Rowland said in the keynote delivered at the Australian Law Forum 2025.
“The government is motivated to capture the opportunities of AI to unlock the positive benefits of the technology for all Australians – and ensuring that Australia has a regulatory environment that facilitates innovation, while mitigating harms,” Rowland added.
Referring specifically to her passion to improve access to justice and legal outcomes for vulnerable Australians, Rowland said artificial intelligence has “great potential” to improve access and costs.
By using the AI tools, Rowland said lawyers, including community lawyers, and policymakers would “allow the legal profession to provide high-quality legal services” to more Australians.
While remaining optimistic, Rowland said she was aware of the risks and concerns about accuracy, bias, confidentiality and broader ethical concerns, which could not be “lightly dismissed”.
“In fact, it is incumbent on those of us who seek to unlock the benefits of AI to confront these issues squarely so that Australians have confidence in AI, and confidence in our system using AI.
“I believe that regulation and innovation are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand in hand,” Rowland said.
By establishing a regulatory environment that promotes innovation but mitigates harms – in addition to providing “clear support and guidance” – Rowland said Australians can be armed with tools “they need to confidently, innovatively and safely engage with AI”.
“The government is committed to supporting Australians through this period of significant technological change, harnessing the potential of technologies such as AI, and ensuring that we have the right settings in place to achieve this,” Rowland said.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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