NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
The NSW Government's mandatory policy for AI use by its agencies (July 2026): seven agency requirements, accountabilities for Agency Heads, Accountable Officials, governance boards, assurance functions and employees, five acceptable use principles, AI use case registration and assessment, annual attestation and AI incident reporting. It replaces the NSW AI Ethics Policy and adopts Australia's AI Ethics Principles.
NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) is a compliance framework from Australia (New South Wales) with 5 domains and 46 controls that map to 3 other frameworks. The largest domains are Standard A: Accountability – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (26 controls), Mandatory agency requirements – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (7 controls), Compliance, attestation and incident reporting – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (5 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (5)
AI use case registration and assessment – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::10.2 | 10.2 Accountable Owner registers each use case once at the right level |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::10.3 | 10.3 Register before use, and register the right use cases |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::10.4 | 10.4 Apply the AIAF at lifecycle points and on material change |
Compliance, attestation and incident reporting – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::1.2.1 | 1.2.1 Law enforcement exemption conditions |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::7.1 | 7.1 Report and remedy non-compliance |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::7.2 | 7.2 Submit the signed annual attestation |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::7.2.1 | 7.2.1 Request an extension for the first reporting period |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::7.3 | 7.3 Report AI related incidents |
Mandatory agency requirements – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.1 | 4.1 Adhere to Australia's AI Ethics Principles |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.2 | 4.2 Designate an Accountable Official and notify NSW GovAI |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.3 | 4.3 Align AI governance and assurance with Standard A |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.4 | 4.4 Align the ICT acceptable use policy with Standard B |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.5 | 4.5 Register all AI use cases in the AIAF Platform |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.6 | 4.6 Apply the AIAF and refer high and critical risk use cases |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::4.7 | 4.7 Make AI literacy and policy training available |
Standard A: Accountability – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
Standard B: Acceptable Use – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::6.1.1 | 6.1.1 Safeguard government information |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::6.1.2 | 6.1.2 Ensure meaningful human oversight |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::6.1.3 | 6.1.3 Remain responsible and accountable for AI use |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::6.1.4 | 6.1.4 Critically assess AI outputs to verify quality and accuracy |
| nsw-ai-operational-policy-2026::6.1.5 | 6.1.5 Adhere to legislation, policy and ethics |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with NSW AI Operational Policy (2026), you already cover:
Maps to 3 other frameworks
Coverage is not the same as your position
This page shows what NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) overlaps with in general. Where your organisation actually stands, against the standard you are going for and the certifications you already hold, is a different question. Same graph and the same recorded refutations, scoped to you rather than to a pair.
The Compliance Position Diagnostic, $5,000 fixed, ten business daysWhat is NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) and who does it apply to?
NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) is a compliance framework from Australia (New South Wales) with 5 domains and 46 controls. The NSW Government's mandatory policy for AI use by its agencies (July 2026): seven agency requirements, accountabilities for Agency Heads, Accountable Officials, governance boards, assurance functions and employees, five acceptable use principles, AI use case registration and assessment, annual attestation and AI incident reporting. It replaces the NSW AI Ethics Policy and adopts Australia's AI Ethics Principles. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) actually require?
NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) has 46 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Standard A: Accountability – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (26 controls), Mandatory agency requirements – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (7 controls), Compliance, attestation and incident reporting – NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) do I already cover?
NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) maps to 3 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Australia Guidance for AI Adoption (2025) (63% coverage), Australia National Framework for the Assurance of AI in Government (2024) (50% coverage), ISO/IEC 42001:2023 (22% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement NSW AI Operational Policy (2026)?
Start your NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about NSW AI Operational Policy (2026) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 46 controls and track your progress.
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