The Albanese is government wants to ban the use of smart glasses in the Australian Public Service in a move that would be a global first.
Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher is seeking advice from the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) on options to ban or restrict the use of glasses capable of recording, amid growing privacy and security concerns.
"Technology is changing rapidly and, as a major employer, the Commonwealth needs to make sure our workplace policies keep pace," Senator Gallagher said.
"Smart glasses can raise legitimate privacy and security concerns, particularly because of their ability to record and capture information, and we need clear and consistent guidance for public servants."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will highlight the plan as part of his pitch to the United Nations on Australia's efforts to protect citizens from potential harms from artificial intelligence - while securing economic benefits - from the developing technology.
His government wants to show it is "moving early" on emerging risks, with the Commonwealth seeking to set a world leading standard as smart glasses become more widely available.
"We want Australia to be a country that helps shape the AI age, rather than simply responding to it," Mr Albanese said, promising to put "the right protections in place as technology evolves."
Smart glasses are capable of recording and capturing information raise new privacy and security, particularly where people may not know they are being recorded, while their growing adoption has been fuelled by cheaper versions sold by retailers such as Kmart.
Senator Gallagher has asked the APSC to advise on whether they should be "prohibited in some settings" and what exemptions should apply for "legitimate uses" by federal bureaucrats.
ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne on Thursday signalled the territory could follow in the footsteps of local councils across Australia that have banned smart glasses for facilities like public swimming pools, agreeing they were "creepy" and saying she was concerned about their potential use to record others in a public place.
Brisbane, the City of Yarra in Melbourne and Canterbury-Bankstown in Melbourne are among council to have banned the technology, while Yass Council Mayor Jasmin Jones this week told ABC Canberra radio she was considering a ban.
Ms Cheyne said the issue was on the ACT government's radar, but that it was slightly easier for councils to impose tighter rules in places like swimming pools to ban the glasses.
"For us, it will depend on exactly the type of venue that people are trying to enter and the behaviours that we're seeing. So we're monitoring our neighbours very closely and I certainly welcome conversations with Yass Valley Council," she told ABC radio.
Kurrajong independent MLA Thomas Emerson on Wednesday said a ban on smart glasses should be examined for pools, gyms and other public areas.
"I think there is a case to have a look at this because, you know, just because you're in a public space doesn't mean that you should be able to be filmed or photographed, and especially when it comes to things like changing rooms, you know, that's very creepy," he said.
Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has resisted calls to ban the importation of smart glasses, saying the government was taking a balanced approach and would not ban the glasses outright, citing accessibility considerations.
"We're neglecting the very legitimate reasons for which some people in our society are using these devices," she told the ABC earlier this month.
"They include people who are vision impaired, for whom this has been a real game changer."
As part of the new developments being announced on Friday, Australia's Office of AI will launch a public consultation on the development of Australia's AI standards.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth will invite Australia's major employers to an AI adoption roundtable in Canberra, with discussions to inform a national AI best practice guidance.
And Treasurer Jim Chalmers will release a preview the AI chapter of the 2026 Intergenerational Report, ahead of its release at the Australian National University on Monday, examining what AI will mean for productivity, jobs and investment over the next 40 years.
Mr Albanese will be travelling to the United States for the UN High Level Week, which begins in New York on Friday local time.
