Sort what arrives
Read incoming correspondence, requests and application documents, match each to the right case and list what is missing.
What AI could run / council operations
Let AI sort and draft. A named officer decides.
Correspondence, requests and applications can be sorted, summarised and drafted by connected AI agents inside the systems a council already uses. A named officer reviews, decides and signs. The federal AI policy does not bind councils, but it shows what good practice looks like.
Discuss your businessPotential implementation areas
Define the work.
Keep the decision.
Summarise and draft
Summarise a case file and prepare a draft reply for an officer to review.
Keep an AI use record
Log each AI use, the officer who approved it and when, in the records system the council already uses.
Example / not a live deployment
AI prepares.
A person decides.
Illustrative example
Council sets allowed AI uses → Agent sorts and summarises → Agent drafts a reply → Named officer reviews → Officer decides and signs → AI use recorded
The agent decides nothing. A named officer reviews each draft, decides and signs. Which AI uses are allowed is the council's call.
What the rules say
What the federal and NSW policies say
The federal Policy for the responsible use of AI in government took effect on 15 December 2025 as version 2.0, with minor updates published on 21 October 2026 as version 2.1. Non-corporate Commonwealth entities must apply it and corporate Commonwealth entities are encouraged to. The policy does not mention states, territories or local government.
DTA, Policy for the responsible use of AI in government v2.1, Implementation (Application)Agencies covered by the policy must publish an AI transparency statement, name accountable officials, name an accountable owner for each in-scope use case, and keep an internal register of those use cases. The owners and register are due within 12 months of the policy taking effect.
DTA, Policy v2.1, Strategy and oversight (mandatory requirements)For in-scope use cases the policy requires an impact assessment that starts at the design stage and is finalised before deployment. Existing use cases must be brought into line by 30 April 2027.
DTA, Policy v2.1, AI use case impact assessment (mandatory requirements)A use case is in scope if it meets any listed criterion. These include materially influencing administrative decisions that affect individuals, using personal or sensitive data, or the public dealing with the AI without human review.
DTA, Policy v2.1, Appendix CThe DTA's AI procurement checklist asks buyers to set contract terms on data ownership, retraining, vendor obligations and performance monitoring, to keep human oversight so decisions can be explained and reviewed by a person, and to keep records for audit.
DTA, AI procurement checklist, steps 9, 13 and 15The NSW AI Operational Policy applies to NSW Government sector agencies and statutory bodies. It states that it is not mandatory for local government.
NSW Department of Customer Service, NSW AI Operational Policy v1.1 (30 July 2026), sections 1.2 and 1.3NSW agencies must register all AI use cases and apply the NSW AI Assessment Framework where required. Where AI interacts with the public, governance boards must make sure a human or non-AI service option and appeal information are available.
NSW AI Operational Policy v1.1, section 4 and section 5.3.2 (items h and i)The Audit Office of NSW reported in January 2026 that the Office of Local Government has not set a mandatory AI framework for councils, that the Australian and NSW frameworks are not mandatory for them, and that fewer than half of councils have a formal AI policy. It said the frameworks offer a reference for councils to judge their readiness.
Audit Office of NSW, Local government 2025, chapter 9
This page summarises public documents. It is not legal advice, and it does not say that any Numaya setup meets any policy. We read New South Wales material only. Councils in other states should check their own state's rules, and take their own advice.
Questions councils and local government ask
Clarity before commitment.
Does the federal AI policy apply to councils?
No. The policy applies to non-corporate Commonwealth entities, and corporate Commonwealth entities are encouraged to follow it. The policy text does not mention state, territory or local government.
Does the NSW AI policy apply to NSW councils?
No. The NSW AI Operational Policy says it is not mandatory for local government. The Audit Office of NSW found in January 2026 that neither the Australian nor the NSW framework is mandatory for councils.
Why look at frameworks that do not bind us?
Councils can use them as a reference when they judge their own readiness. The Audit Office of NSW said the Australian and NSW frameworks offer that reference, and it recommended that a mandatory council framework be set.
Will an AI agent make decisions on applications?
No. In the setup described here a named officer reviews every draft, decides and signs. The DTA's procurement checklist asks buyers to keep human oversight so that decisions stay explainable and open to human review.
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