The AI Imperative: How Australian Chambers Are Positioning Businesses for the Digital Decade

The Productivity Promise—and the Risk of Missed Opportunity

Artificial intelligence is reshaping Australia’s economy, and ACCI has made clear that the nation’s regulatory and tax settings are not yet calibrated to seize the moment. In a September 2026 statement, ACCI CEO Andrew McKellar warned that “expecting Australian businesses to globally compete on AI while loading them up with excessive tax and regulatory burdens does not compute”.

The chamber’s position is nuanced. It supports responsible AI development but opposes blanket restrictions that could create what it describes as “data centre panic.” In a submission to a Senate inquiry, ACCI advocated for a source-neutral approach to energy decisions, arguing that a diverse energy mix ultimately provides better outcomes for price and reliability—both essential for the energy-hungry data centres that power AI infrastructure.

Data Centres as Critical Infrastructure

ACCI frames data centres not as a policy problem but as a strategic asset. “Data centres are critical infrastructure and an essential component of Australia’s future prosperity,” the chamber stated. “The policy challenge is not whether data centres should be built, but how they can best be planned, powered and resourced efficiently while maintaining community and investor confidence”.

This perspective positions the chamber as a pragmatic voice in a debate often polarised between technological enthusiasm and environmental concern. ACCI’s advocacy for source-neutral energy policy reflects a recognition that Australia’s AI ambitions depend on reliable, affordable power.

Bridging the Digital Capability Gap

Beyond infrastructure, ACCI is focused on the skills gap that threatens to exclude smaller businesses from the digital economy. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s Future of Work report found that stronger digital skills are needed by 70 per cent of Queensland businesses. ACCI’s 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission includes a dedicated recommendation to “Grow Digital Capability,” recognising that digital maturity varies widely across the small business sector and that exposure to scam risks increases in an increasingly digital operating environment.

A Balanced Approach to Algorithm Reform

The chamber has also weighed in on algorithm regulation, with McKellar emphasising that reform must “balance keeping Australians safe online with the opportunity for Australian businesses to compete and provide legitimate services in the modern economy”. This balanced stance reflects ACCI’s broader philosophy: regulation should enable, not encumber.

For Australian businesses, the chamber’s digital agenda is both a warning and a roadmap. The AI decade will reward those who invest in capability and punish those who wait. ACCI’s role is to ensure that government policy creates a fair go—not a head start for international competitors while Australian firms compete with “one hand tied behind their backs”.