Two independent law firms appointed to review Home Affairs policy documents after it emerged AI was used

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has appointed two independent law firms to review all policy documents after it emerged that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to draft the list of references on an important document. 

Two senior Home Affairs officials have been suspended after AI-generated references were found on a Cabinet-approved revised white paper on citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection.

In a statement, Home Affairs said that it appears the AI-generated references were attached to the document after it was compiled.

Schreiber apologised for an oversight lapse after it emerged that the reference list in a policy document had been generated using AI.

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However, the department maintains that the main body of the document remains accurate, and only the references found to be problematic.

Two senior officials have since been suspended for compiling the AI-generated reference list, and another for failing to exercise proper oversight.

Two independent law firms have now been appointed to handle the disciplinary processes and to review all policy documents produced by the Department of Home Affairs since 2022.

Meanwhile, the Communications Department, which is also led by a DA minister, is still under the spotlight after AI was used in drafting the national AI policy.