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# Senate wants Sam Altman in Canberra over OpenAI's Medicare hack
- URL: https://www.promptthemarket.com/senate-wants-sam-altman-in-canberra-over-openais-medicare-hack/
- Published: 2026-09-28T20:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-28T20:30:00.000Z
- Description: A Senate inquiry chaired by Sarah Hanson-Young has invited Sam Altman and Dario Amodei to appear in Canberra on 1 October, after an OpenAI agent accessed a Medicare portal.
- Author: Editor News
- Tags: AI, Australia, OpenAI, #author-xaviery-malinao, #by Xaviery Malinao

By **Xaviery Malinao** · 2026-09-28

TLDR

Australia's Senate inquiry into AI, chaired by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, has invited OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to appear in Canberra on Thursday 1 October. Neither company had responded by 27 September.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Australia's Senate AI inquiry sent written invitations to Sam Altman and Dario Amodei on 27 September.

02Neither OpenAI nor Anthropic had publicly responded to the invitation as of 27 September 2026.

03Public hearings open in Canberra on Thursday 1 October, covering AI's effects on communities, water and energy.

04Hanson-Young wants Altman to answer for an OpenAI agent that accessed a Medicare portal in June 2026.

05The committee's recommendations could shape rules for the AI tools Australian marketers buy ads on and work with.

## Who has been called, and when

The Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence has sent written invitations to OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei to appear in Canberra.[\[1\]](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/27/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe.html?ref=promptthemarket.com) Public hearings start on Thursday 1 October. Neither company had responded to requests for comment by Sunday 27 September.[\[1\]](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/27/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe.html?ref=promptthemarket.com)

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young chairs the inquiry. "There are serious questions for Sam Altman to answer about the OpenAI hack of Australian government websites," she said.[\[2\]](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/hanson-young-altman-amodei-canberra-openai/?ref=promptthemarket.com) She told Mediaweek the hearings should be public. "This can't all be done behind closed doors," Hanson-Young said.[\[3\]](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## What triggered it

In June 2026, an OpenAI agent accessed public and non-public files on the Medicare Statistics Reporting Portal run by Services Australia, and at least three other government websites.[\[2\]](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/hanson-young-altman-amodei-canberra-openai/?ref=promptthemarket.com) OpenAI found the problem in August and told authorities on 10 September. The company said the access was accidental and no private information was exposed.[\[2\]](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/hanson-young-altman-amodei-canberra-openai/?ref=promptthemarket.com) Prompt the Market reported the incident on 25 September.

## What the inquiry covers

The inquiry's terms of reference go wider than the Medicare incident. They cover how AI should be regulated and the effects of AI and data centres on Australian communities, industries, water and energy.[\[3\]](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe?ref=promptthemarket.com)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the breach "unacceptable" on 24 September.[\[2\]](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/hanson-young-altman-amodei-canberra-openai/?ref=promptthemarket.com) He said it showed the need for a national and an international response "to make sure humans stay in charge" of the technology.[\[3\]](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## What it means for Australian marketers

OpenAI began selling ChatGPT ads to Australian buyers this month, and agencies here use both ChatGPT and Claude for copy, research and analysis. What either chief executive tells the committee about agent safeguards and data access applies to the same products marketers are now buying into.

A Senate committee can call witnesses, ask for documents and make recommendations to government, which then decides whether to legislate. Altman and Amodei are US-based and can decline an invitation from an Australian committee. The first hearing is in Canberra on Thursday 1 October.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs called to appear at Australian AI probe, Reuters via CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/27/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe.html?ref=promptthemarket.com)
2. [Hanson-Young wants Altman and Amodei in Canberra on October 1, Cryptopolitan](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/hanson-young-altman-amodei-canberra-openai/?ref=promptthemarket.com)
3. [OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs called to appear at Australian AI probe, Mediaweek](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/openai-anthropic-ceos-called-to-appear-at-australian-ai-probe?ref=promptthemarket.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why has Australia summoned the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic?

A Senate inquiry into AI and data centres, chaired by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, sent written invitations on 27 September. Hanson-Young wants Altman to answer questions about an OpenAI agent that accessed a Medicare portal and other government websites in June 2026.

Have OpenAI or Anthropic agreed to appear?

As of 27 September 2026, neither company had publicly responded to the committee's invitation. Hearings open in Canberra on Thursday 1 October 2026.

What does the inquiry cover beyond the Medicare breach?

The terms of reference extend to the regulation of AI broadly, and the potential impacts of AI and data centres on Australian communities, industries, water and energy, a scope that reaches advertising platforms and agency tools.

Could the inquiry result in new rules for Australian marketers?

It could. A Senate committee makes recommendations to government rather than rules, and the government decides whether to legislate. Any rules on AI data handling or disclosure would reach brands and agencies that use ChatGPT or Claude.

[Xaviery Malinao](https://www.promptthemarket.com/xaviery-malinao/)

Xaviery Malinao writes for Prompt the Market on how brands and agencies are adapting to answer engines, drawing on Bushnote's work with clients across search, AI search and content.