Public sector AI governance: risks and opportunities

Public sector AI governance: risks and opportunities

Author: CPA Australia August 5, 2025 Duration: 18:06

As AI becomes embedded across public sector operations, how do you balance innovation with accountability? In this episode, hear expert views on the governance of AI in the public sector.  

Key themes include: 

  • Why defining AI clearly matters for risk management 

  • The need to keep humans in the loop for high-impact decisions 

  • Risks of using public generative AI tools with confidential data 

  • The importance of closed-loop and contextual AI systems in government 

  • How to balance centralised frameworks with agency-specific needs 

  • Building a risk-aware culture vs. enforcing tick-box compliance 

  • The challenge of maintaining transparency in machine learning 

  • Why AI governance should be principles-based, not rules-based 

  • The growing concerns around agentic AI and loss of human control 

Whether you're a policy maker, accountant or public service leader, this discussion offers practical insights into designing agile, ethical and effective AI governance in the public sector. 

Host: Ram Subramanian, External Reporting Lead, Policy, Standards and External Affairs, CPA Australia 

Guest: Michael Davern, FCPA Professor of Accounting and Business Information Systems, University of Melbourne. For over 30 years, both in Australia and internationally, he has led industry-engaged research projects in data analytics, business intelligence, financial reporting, risk management, data governance and ethics, among others. 

CPA Australia has released a report titled AI governance in the public sector. It features key insights from CPA Australia's recent webinar with public sector experts. 

For more, a media release on AI governance in the public sector summarises our views. 

And learn more about this episode's expert guest Michael Davern on the University of Melbourne website.  

Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.  

CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:  

Search for them in your podcast platform.  

Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au  


Tune in to With Interest for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping the world of business and finance. Presented by CPA Australia, this weekly discussion moves beyond the headlines to explore the practical implications of change for accounting professionals, business leaders, and anyone with a stake in the economic landscape. You’ll hear from practitioners and experts who break down complex topics in auditing, taxation, and corporate strategy into actionable insights. The conversations in this podcast are grounded in real-world application, whether the subject is a shift in regulatory frameworks, emerging leadership challenges, or broader economic trends. It’s a resource designed to inform your decisions and deepen your understanding of the professional landscape. For those looking to stay current and think critically about their work, With Interest provides a reliable and engaging audio companion. Each episode serves as a timely update and a catalyst for deeper professional reflection, all delivered with the authority and depth you would expect from CPA Australia.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 95

With Interest
Podcast Episodes
Tax Time 2026: ATO's main focus areas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:08
Tax time 2026 is upon us. And in this first episode, unpack the ATO's major focus areas. Also, for tax agents and taxpayers, gain practical insights ahead of lodgement season. Key learnings: The ATO's biggest priorities…
Federal Budget 2026-27: CPA Australia's expert analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:30
In this special Federal Budget 2026–27 episode, hear expert analysis of the measures announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in last night's budget. CPA Australia's business and tax policy experts break down what Budget 2026…
Tax reform insights from a global policy expert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:00
Tax reform. It's one of the most hotly debated issues around the world. And as global tax expert Viva Hammer notes, the biggest barrier to tax reform in Australia is not policy – it is the pursuit of perfection. In this…
Managing cashflow pressures: Insights for small business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:35
Cashflow planning is now critical for small businesses. In an environment of volatile fuel prices, interest rate uncertainty and upcoming changes to payday super, this episode will help you understand and manage today's…
Global volatility, energy shocks and business resilience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:17
It's a volatile world. Energy security, trade in primary resources and food supply are all reshaping the rules of resilience. In this timely episode, CPA Australia's experts unpack how global conflict is affecting the op…
Navigating business in today's uncertain global landscape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:45
It's a volatile world, and businesses are under pressure. In this episode of With Interest, Gavan Ord, Business Investment and International lead at CPA Australia, explores how businesses are navigating an increasingly u…
Payday super checklist before July's changes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:59
Payday super is one of the most significant payroll changes in years, and businesses need to act now to be ready. This episode is like a checklist, breaking down what the shift to real-time super payments means in practi…
New AML reforms and what they mean for accountants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:21
(This encore presentation episode was originally published on Dec 9, 2025) When anti-money laundering (AML) comes to mind, most accountants assume it only applies to large transactions – but that's now changing. This epi…
ASIC on the future of auditing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:35
In 2026, auditors are working in an environment defined by AI technologies, heightened scrutiny, regulatory oversight and ethics demands. Which is why it's vital that professionals in audit understand this evolving lands…
INTHEBLACK: Do you want to be happier at work? New research shows how [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:54
We all want to be happy at work. Or at least happier, don't we? Across this conversation, listeners will learn about a foundational concept: Success often follows happiness rather than causes it. Drawing on research in p…