Australian Government Scraps AI Advisory Body

Australia's federal government scrapped a planned AI Advisory Body after 15 months of recruitment, $188,000 in spending and 12 shortlisted nominees, officials revealed. Ministers instead announced a $29.9 million AI Safety Institute to test, monitor and advise on AI risks, replacing proposed mandatory guardrails. The pivot signals a lighter-touch, agency-empowerment approach to AI regulation, with implications for timing and oversight.