Australians for AI Safety Launches New Election Campaign — Here's How You Can Help

Today marks the launch of a new federal election campaign from Australians for AI Safety — bringing together leading AI experts to advocate for crucial safety policies ahead of the federal election. Good Ancestors has been leading the coordination of this initiative over the past few months and we need your help now!

What the campaign includes:

• An expert-led open letter calling on the next government to establish an Australian AI Safety Institute and progress an Australian AI Act with mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI
• An election scorecard showing where candidates in each electorate stand on these AI safety policies
• Tools to contact local candidates who haven't shared their positions

Why this matters:

Australia committed to creating an AI Safety Institute as part of the Seoul Declaration but remains the only signatory country yet to deliver. With potentially transformative AI developments possible within the next few years, securing policy commitments during this election window represents a high-leverage opportunity.

The election is looking close, with forecasts suggesting approximately a 40% chance of a hung parliament (neither major party/coalition can form government on their own). This increases the importance (and opportunity) of securing commitments from multiple parties and independents who may hold the balance of power.

The campaign focuses on relatively narrow, tractable interventions that complement broader governance efforts. These asks are calibrated to what can realistically be achieved in the Australian policy context and what can meaningfully contribute to international AI safety.

How to help (even if you're not in Australia):

1. Sign the open letter at australiansforaisafety.com.au — anyone can sign, but we especially want people with a connection to Australia (e.g., citizens, residents, or those who have lived/worked/studied there) and especially value experts and public figures.
2. If you're registered to vote in Australia, email your local candidates through the website to ask for their positions
3. Share the campaign with Australian contacts or those interested in AI governance with a connection to Australia
4. Boost visibility by engaging with social media posts about the campaign

Why are people signing?

The signatories have been providing statements of support when signing the letter, here’s a select few:

• “Australia risks being in a position where it has little say on the AI systems that will increasingly affect its future. An Australian AI Safety Institute would allow Australia to participate on the world stage in guiding this critical technology that affects us all.”
  Dr. Toby Ord, Senior Researcher at Oxford University and author of The Precipice: Existential Risks and the Future of Humanity
• “It sets a dangerous precedent for Australia to formally commit to specific actions but fail to follow through. Australia is the only signatory that is yet to meet its obligations.”
  Greg Sadler, CEO of Good Ancestors and coordinator of Australians for AI Safety
• “I support the creation of an Australian AI safety institute and the implementation of an AI Act. Both are urgently required to ensure that the risks associated with AI are effectively managed. We are fast losing the opportunity to ensure that all AI technologies are safe, ethical, and beneficial to humanity.”
  Prof. Paul Salmon, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems
• "Robust assurance justifies trust. We’re all excited about the potential opportunities of AI, but not enough work is currently happening to address genuine safety concerns. It’s easy to understand why Australians are hesitant to adopt AI while these big issues are outstanding.”
  Yanni Kyriacos, Director of AI Safety Australia & New Zealand
• “AI is as transformative as electricity and as powerful as nuclear technology. We wouldn’t handle those without clear mandatory safeguards, and AI should be no different. To support good policy, Australia's government also needs a dedicated AI Safety Institute to bring deep technical AI expertise into government.”
  Soroush Pour, CEO of Harmony Intelligence
• “AI safety and security is a global challenge. But middle powers like Australia have an important role in shaping the global discourse and strengthening safety measures.”
  Oscar Delaney, Institute for AI Policy and Strategy
• “We need to ensure AI systems align with our society’s needs and values, while ensuring a populace with a healthy educated skepticism of these systems. This is best achieved through an Australian AI Safety Institute and AI Act.”
  Prof. Richard Dazeley, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Deakin University

Questions or suggestions? Feel free to comment below or reach out directly.

Note: The Good Ancestors team would be happy to share our signature/scorecard platform and lessons learned with other campaigners working on similar initiatives in different countries. Please reach out if you're interested in adapting this approach for your context.