The report highlights the urgent need for regulatory frameworks
Makes a series of critical recommendations to address the challenges AI poses to Australia’s creative industries
APRA AMCOS welcomes the release of the final report of the Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which makes a series of critical recommendations to address the challenges AI poses to Australia’s creative industries.
The report highlights the urgent need for regulatory frameworks to protect intellectual property, ensure ethical use of AI and safeguard the livelihoods of Australian creators, including musicians, songwriters and composers.
APRA AMCOS CEO, Dean Ormston, applauded the Committee for recognising the detrimental impact of AI on workers, particularly those in the creative sector, and for proposing clear steps to mitigate these risks.
“The Senate report makes an important contribution to ensuring the future of Australia’s creative industries," Ormston says. "By acknowledging the significant harm generative AI can cause—both economically and culturally—the recommendations offer a pathway to protecting the creators who form the cultural backbone of this country. These are the people whose works enrich our lives and power an industry worth billions to our economy."
Key recommendations from the Senate Committee include the implementation of a credentialing system for AI-generated content, enhanced transparency from tech platforms and targeted regulatory reforms to prevent the misuse of AI in the creative industries. These measures align with the findings of APRA AMCOS’s landmark AI and Music Report, which warned of the financial and cultural risks posed by unregulated AI use.
The findings of the AI and Music Report, commissioned by APRA AMCOS earlier this year, revealed that 24% of the Australian and New Zealand music industry revenue could be lost within the next four years if generative AI platforms continue to operate without proper licensing or consent.
The report also highlighted the significant risks to Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), with AI tools harvesting culturally sensitive materials without consent, threatening both cultural heritage and creators’ livelihoods. The report emphasised the need for robust regulations to address these concerns and ensure equitable compensation and recognition for all creators.
The Senate Committee report focuses on the need for proactive regulation and shines a light on the concerning approach of major tech platforms during the inquiry. Their lack of transparency and failure to address critical issues around the unauthorised use of creative and copyright works underline the need for enforceable safeguards.
Ormston adds: “The testimony of some tech platforms during this inquiry demonstrates their unwillingness to take accountability for the harm their technologies are causing. The Committee’s recommendations provide a clear framework that supports innovation, but also holds these companies to account, so an environment is fostered where creators’ rights are respected and upheld.
"Significantly, the report reflects unanimous agreement across government, opposition and crossbench senators on the urgent need to address AI’s impact on music and the broader creative sector.
“This bipartisan consensus is a powerful signal that protecting creators is not just a cultural imperative—it is a national priority. We applaud the Committee for its recognition of the creative industry's value and its commitment to ensuring its sustainability in the face of rapid technological change," Ormston concludes.
APRA AMCOS thanks the Committee for its important work and looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Australian Government to implement these recommendations, ensuring that Australian creators can thrive in an AI-driven world.