Amplifying the national conversation on AI in government
Liquid and The Mandarin are proud to continue a national research project tracking attitudes, readiness and next steps for responsible AI implementation across Australia’s public service. The ‘Let’s get real about AI’ survey, which launched in 2025 as a first-of-its-kind national benchmarking exercise, is now an annual initiative.

AI & innovation
Government & policy

What started as the first step in cutting through hype to build a grounded picture of how AI is viewed from inside government, where momentum is growing and what barriers are slowing meaningful progress, has become an important indicator for change.

The inaugural ‘Let’s get real about AI’ survey and landmark report (released August 2025), capturing frank insights of 600 public servants from all levels and functions of government, ranks as The Mandarin’s most popular partner report to date.

It also marked the beginning of a year-long ‘AI in Government’ collaboration, covering high-profile events, webinars and roundtable discussions with federal and state regulatory agencies, and government departments.

These conversations have helped shape practical next steps, as outlined in Liquid’s guide, Speed. Safety. Scalability. A roadmap for responsible AI adoption in Australia’s public service (released April 2026). Importantly, shifting the conversation from one about technology to a leadership challenge.

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Why this conversation matters
Let’s be clear. AI is not the hero in this conversation. It is just another tool intended to augment human capability.

What sets it apart is unprecedented speed and power compared to other transformative technologies, reflected in the current analogy that one year of AI development correlates to anywhere between 10 and 20 human years.

The first national survey revealed more than 90% of 600 respondents believe AI can help improve productivity. Further, 84% are personally ready to use AI in their work, and 58% are highly willing to lead or champion an AI initiative.

When asked where AI could make the biggest difference, they pointed to practical, operational priorities: reducing administrative burden, improving customer outcomes, strengthening decision support, and lifting the quality and consistency of compliance and regulation.

However, across government, AI adoption is largely still at a nascent stage, and readiness varies within and between agencies.

What’s next?
Taking a human-centred approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data, the ‘Let’s get real about AI’ survey series forms the centrepiece of national research grounded in real-world insights and complexity of public service work.

The results of the 2026 survey will inform a national report, to be released later this year, tracking how operational and cultural factors continue to shape the way public servants perceive and engage with AI.

The ‘Let’s get real about AI’ 2026 survey opened on 19 May and closes 30 June.

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If your organisation is exploring AI strategy, digital delivery or system reform, we’d love to work with you. Start a conversation.

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