Canberra-based company Trellis Data’s CEO Michel Gately (centre) has backed calls for more investment in domestic AI development. Photo: Trellis Data.
Following the Australian Government ban on DeepSeek R1, an Australian AI company has joined calls for decisive action to strengthen sovereign AI capabilities.
Advancements in AI have sparked fresh concerns over data sovereignty and security.
Chinese-developed DeepSeek has sparked national security fears and has quickly seen the Australian Government ban its use on government devices due to “unacceptable risks”.
A recent Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) pre-budget submission warns that without immediate investment in local AI development, Australia risks becoming “a global laggard” in AI adoption.
Canberra-based Trellis Data strongly supports this call. In a statement, the local AI company says it, together with the AIIA, is calling for greater investment in homegrown AI to protect national security, drive economic growth, and position Australia as a global leader in AI innovation.
Trellis Data is committed to developing secure, disconnected AI applications designed especially for customers in high-security environments, such as government, law enforcement and intelligence.
“Australia can’t afford to always rely on foreign AI that we neither control nor fully trust,” Trellis Data CEO Michael Gately said.
“We need sustained investment in Australian AI companies to ensure our data remains secure, our AI capabilities remain competitive, and our economy benefits from homegrown innovation. We believe the Federal Government can lead the way by actually adopting and utilising more homegrown AI solutions.
“A strong, sovereign AI sector isn’t just an economic advantage — it’s a national security imperative,” said Mr Gately. “We need a forward-thinking AI strategy that ensures Australia is building, not just consuming, AI technology. The time to act is now.”
The company says banning foreign technologies doesn’t solve the problem for those who understand the benefits of using AI.
“Without a secure, sovereign alternative, staff may turn to unmonitored tools, personal devices, or other external workarounds, potentially introducing new security vulnerabilities,” the statement said.
“Government-led investment and adoption of trusted Australian AI solutions would help protect sensitive data and ensure public sector employees can leverage AI safely and efficiently within a controlled and compliant framework.”
