Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has disclosed that an OpenAI AI agent breached Medicare in June, with the technology company only notifying the government this month via email to a "public mailbox". Opposition defence spokesperson James Paterson has questioned the political timing of the announcement, made at a UN summit in New York, suggesting it aligns with the Prime Minister's agenda to challenge "big tech" on artificial intelligence regulation. Paterson stated that whilst the government has questions to answer about its knowledge and disclosure strategy, the breach itself represents a lower level of severity.

According to Paterson, the data accessed by the AI agent was not sensitive personal or private information, but rather publicly available health system data that researchers and academics can access freely. Despite downplaying the breach's seriousness, Paterson emphasised that Australians are entitled to demand explanations from the government and "contrition" from OpenAI, and should expect high levels of confidence in agreements with major technology companies.