The fund will be used attract industry and university partnership opportunities to pilot and scale initiatives that offer productivity or service delivery benefits.
WA science and innovation minister Stephen Dawson said it will be supported by a buying mechanism for government to facilitate ready access to leading AI businesses.
“The advancement of AI presents significant opportunities to enhance service delivery across government functions,” he said.
“By establishing an AI Centre of Excellence and an investment fund, we will ensure Western Australia remains at the forefront of technological innovation and that our public sector is equipped with the resources necessary to meet evolving needs.”
Opportunities for AI use within the public sector are vast and have the potential to increase community safety, reduce approval timeframes, ensure more effective and efficient provision of services as well as improve health and education outcomes across the State.
The minister said the AI Centre of Excellence will enable the public sector to be equipped to deploy AI solutions that reduce administrative burdens, improve decision making and process information faster.
An AI uplift team will provide specialist expertise to assist agencies to deliver high value AI solutions that can be scaled across the sector. The team will complement the central AI policy and governance team, who will continue to support agencies to use AI safely and responsibly.
“The Cook Labor Government is dedicated to building and future-proofing both the skills and infrastructure essential for the state’s readiness in the years ahead,” Dawson said.
The announcement coincided with the launch of the WA Government’s Digital Strategy 2026-2030, which is focused on improved data sharing, enhanced public sector collaboration, workforce upskilling and greater use of AI.
