Australia’s creative and media sector contributes $70.3 billion to our economy and employs almost 600,000 workers. Foreign AI shouldn’t use our creative work without permission and payment.
From the news we rely on, to the music we love, and the stories we tell, Australian creativity is part of who we are.
It’s also a major economic driver, supporting jobs and businesses in communities across Australia.
But as AI advances, the copyright protections behind our creative industries are under pressure.
Australian businesses pay to use copyright-protected music, books, films, journalism and other creative works.
But major AI companies are seeking new ways to use this material to train their models without first asking permission or negotiating with the industries they’re attempting to exploit.
The Australian Government has ruled out one proposal to weaken existing protections, but further decisions could still undermine the rights of Australian creators.
Existing protections for Australian creators must come first.
AI companies should not be able to use Australian creative work without permission and agreed payment.
We believe copyright protections should apply to everyone, including the world’s biggest tech companies.
“It’s Not Theirs To Take.”
HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION
Tell your local representative in the Australian Parliament to protect our creators, uphold their rights and keep existing copyright protections in place before making any changes that could put their futures at risk.
These aren’t just numbers.
They’re Australian jobs, local businesses and supply chains supporting communities across the country. Real people, real livelihoods at risk.
© Vincent Namatjira/Copyright Agency, 2026
* Sources:
BCARR (2025, 2026); Creative Australia (2026).
HAVE SUBMITTED THE POLL
"A mutually beneficial relationship between Big Tech and the world's creative industries should be a no-brainer. The problem is that Big Tech assumed i...A mutually beneficial relationship between Big Tech and the world's creative industries should be a no-brainer. The problem is that Big Tech assumed it could avoid asking permission or paying for the most important ingredient in its platforms: creative content. A Government's job isn't to shield AI companies from the consequences of taking creators' work. It's to get them to the table to negotiate licences creators are free to accept or reject. If a deal falls over because the terms don't stack up or creators won't opt in, that's a commercial consequence, not a reason to rewrite the law."
"I think that these companies should go and f**k themselves, and they can mine and scrape that sentence or whatever they want to call their stealing as...I think that these companies should go and f**k themselves, and they can mine and scrape that sentence or whatever they want to call their stealing as much as they like"
"Australia has had some of the best copyright laws, something to be proud of, now is the time for our government to show some backbone"
"Visual artists spend years developing their skills, ideas and distinct bodies of work. AI companies should not be able to take the results of that lab...Visual artists spend years developing their skills, ideas and distinct bodies of work. AI companies should not be able to take the results of that labour, use it to build commercial products and profit without artists’ permission or payment. Artists have the right to control how their work is used and to be recognised as its creators. Those rights must not be weakened to suit Big Tech. The choice must belong to artists. Consent should be opt-in, not opt-out."
"Australia must not become the sinkhole of the copyright world by weakening our laws for Big Tech AI. Innovation and copyright can coexist. Licensing a...Australia must not become the sinkhole of the copyright world by weakening our laws for Big Tech AI. Innovation and copyright can coexist. Licensing agreements are already proving it."
"Australian newsrooms don’t work for free, and AI companies shouldn’t get to just help themselves to their journalism. As the Prime Minister said, not...Australian newsrooms don’t work for free, and AI companies shouldn’t get to just help themselves to their journalism. As the Prime Minister said, not everything produced in Australia is up for grabs. The Government must hold firm. Permission first. It’s not AI’s to take."
"What is being contemplated is theft, plain and simple, so let's see Albanese's government make sure we're not left begging in the gutter, while a life...What is being contemplated is theft, plain and simple, so let's see Albanese's government make sure we're not left begging in the gutter, while a lifetime's worth of creative work is sucked up to fuel the profits of big tech"
"The negative impacts of AI far outstrip the positive impacts in the Arts. AI and learning models are unethical, have no respect for moral, intellectua...The negative impacts of AI far outstrip the positive impacts in the Arts. AI and learning models are unethical, have no respect for moral, intellectual or creative rights and undermine the work of actual humans, original artists and our work. While AI can be a useful tool, without legislation and protections, AI does more harm to artists than benefit."
"It defies belief that changes to copyright are still being considered when the country has been unequivocal in voicing this is not what it wants."
It’s not just about who’s on stage or on screen.
Behind every Australian song, book, news story, video game, film and television show is a network of workers and businesses.
Musicians. Writers. Journalists. Sound engineers. Producers. Broadcasters. Filmmakers. Publishers. Printers. Equipment suppliers. Venue workers.
Together, they support jobs, supply chains and economic activity in communities across Australia.
Decisions about Australia’s copyright laws could have consequences far beyond the creative industries, affecting local businesses and livelihoods.
Everyone has a role to play in protecting Australian creativity.
Whether you’re a creator, industry organisation, public figure or passionate supporter, you can help make your voice heard and tell the government it’s “Not AI’s To Take!”.
Help spread the message with social media graphics, posters, suggested posts and other resources to share with your community.
What’s at stake for Australian creators?
Download our fact pack to learn more about AI, copyright protections, the economic importance of our creative industries and why permission.
Download the fact pack
A campaign asking the Australian Government to stay firm on its commitment to Australia's creative industries.
AI tools learn by copying huge amounts of music, books, news and art (AI companies call it “training”). Some AI companies want to use Australian work without asking or paying the people who made it. Once an AI system has learned from something, it can't unlearn it, so permission needs to come first.
Partly. In 2025 it ruled out letting AI companies use creative work for free. But other options are still being considered, including an ‘opt-out’ model where work could be used unless a creator explicitly says no. It’s like a rule saying anyone can walk into your home and take what they like, unless you’ve put up a sign on the door saying “Keep Out.” No final decision has been made, and foreign AI companies are intently lobbying the Government for workarounds.
No. AI can be a useful tool. We simply believe AI companies should play by the same rules as everyone else. AI on Australia’s terms means creators give permission first. It’s not AI’s to take.
Creative industries add $70.3 billion to our economy and employ almost 600,000 Australians. That includes sound engineers, printers, venue staff and local businesses. It's also about the songs, stories and news we all rely on.
Sign the petition, take the poll, send a letter to your local MP, or download the toolkit to spread the word. Every person who joins the campaign matters.
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