- AI Centre of Excellence and $10 million AI Investment Fund to be established, putting WA public sector at the forefront of rapid AI adoption and innovation
- Investment to boost WA public sector’s capacity to service needs of the community
- Cook Labor Government diversifying the economy and creating future ready jobs
Western Australia is set to be at the forefront of using artificial intelligence (AI) to support the community with the establishment of a new Public Sector AI Centre of Excellence and a $10 million investment fund.
Opportunities for AI use within the public sector are vast and have the potential to increase community safety, reduce approval timeframes, ensure more effective and efficient provision of services as well as improve health and education outcomes across the State.
The AI Centre of Excellence will enable the public sector to be equipped to deploy AI solutions that support and serve the community by reducing administrative burdens, improving decision making and processing information faster.
Additionally, the $10 million AI Investment Fund will attract industry and university partnership opportunities to pilot and scale initiatives that demonstrate clear productivity or service delivery benefits. This will be supported by a buying mechanism for government to facilitate ready access to leading AI businesses.
An AI uplift team will provide specialist expertise to assist agencies to deliver high value AI solutions that can be scaled across the sector. The team will complement the central AI policy and governance team, who will continue to support agencies to use AI safely and responsibly.
This centralised approach enables the public sector to move towards high impact deployment of AI solutions, reducing duplication and ensuring value is realised from AI investment.
Today also marked the launch of the WA Government’s Digital Strategy 2026-2030 which is set to improve data sharing, enhance public sector collaboration, upskill the workforce and harness the power of AI.
As stated by Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector continues to effectively serve Western Australians. The advancement of AI presents significant opportunities to enhance service delivery across government functions.
“By establishing an AI Centre of Excellence and an investment fund, we will ensure Western Australia remains at the forefront of technological innovation and that our public sector is equipped with the resources necessary to meet evolving needs.
“The Cook Labor Government is dedicated to building and future-proofing both the skills and infrastructure essential for the state’s readiness in the years ahead.”
