Australia’s move away from a standalone AI Act is not a missed opportunity but rather a context-driven governance approach leveraging existing laws to address algorithmic harms. However, the success of such an approach hinges on the government's capacity to remain accountable to the standards it sets and to maintain responsive sectoral responses amid a changing landscape.

Industrial policy in Australia could be strategically leveraged to address food system challenges by promoting health, sustainability, social equity and economic resilience through coordinated innovation and exnovation, infrastructure support for local small producers, improved labour conditions and coherent cross-sectoral policies.

Australia’s long-standing Energy Rating Label is widely recognised but has been insufficient to overcome the affordability barrier, which prevents many consumers from purchasing energy-efficient appliances. The next step in promoting energy efficiency requires financial support measures, digital label integration, and enhanced practical energy literacy tools to enable effective consumer action informed by energy-efficiency knowledge.

Local governments play a critical role in addressing community health, wellbeing and climate challenges. Local government funding and more effective partnership between levels of government – through formalised agreements, capability-building and local knowledge integration – can create sustainable and effective programs for Australian communities.