Victoria has set out a framework to position itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence development in Australia, with the state government arguing the technology will play a central role in future jobs and economic growth.
The Victorian Government has released its AI Mission Statement, outlining how Victoria intends to attract investment, build skills and guide the responsible use of AI across the economy and the public sector. The plan is framed around building public confidence in technologies that are increasingly shaping everyday life, while capturing what the government estimates could be up to $30 billion in added gross state product over the next decade.
Launching the statement, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson said the government wanted to move early and deliberately. “We’re embracing AI with the same bold ambition that has made Victoria a global innovation leader, paving the way for our state to become the nation’s capital of AI,” he said.
The Mission Statement sets out a strategic approach built on six pillars, covering investment attraction, data centres and digital infrastructure, local innovation, workforce development, ethical use of AI and adoption within government itself. Together, they are intended to position Victoria as a leader in safe and trusted AI development, supported by a skilled local workforce.
Victoria already hosts 188 AI companies, representing around 22 per cent of Australia’s clustered AI firms, the largest concentration nationally
Two new funding initiatives sit at the centre of the plan. A $5.5 million Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan aims to unlock projects valued at up to $25 billion, with the government seeking to establish Victoria as an Asia-Pacific hub for sustainable data centres. The program will use transport, energy and water data to identify suitable locations and will work with TAFEs to train workers needed to support the sector.
Alongside this, an $8.1 million Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion program is designed to help workers in industries exposed to automation retrain for roles linked to AI, with the aim of protecting existing jobs while building new capabilities.
Victoria already hosts 188 AI companies, representing around 22 per cent of Australia’s clustered AI firms, the largest concentration nationally. Demand for data capacity linked to AI adoption has also driven rapid expansion in digital infrastructure. The government points to a recently announced $2 billion digital campus at Fishermans Bend as an example of the scale of investment being attracted, with flow-on employment expected across technology, advanced research and related fields.
According to the government, the AI Mission Statement aligns with its broader Economic Growth Statement, which seeks to strengthen Victoria’s position in priority sectors such as digital technologies.
“Our AI Mission Statement outlines how Victoria will seize the potential of AI to accelerate innovation, lift productivity and grow our economy,” Mr Pearson said.
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