Tesla gave us access to a pre-release build of Full Self-Driving on Brisbane roads in a right-hand-drive Model 3 “Highland.” This wasn’t a fenced-off demo; it handled real traffic, roundabouts, merges and parking while we supervised and stood ready to intervene. Our take: it’s surprisingly competent, mostly cautious, and closer to everyday usefulness than we expected.

On our loop, FSD selected lanes, executed right turns, negotiated roundabouts without drama and completed a park near our destination. It cancelled a lane change when a car entered the blind spot and generally erred on the side of patience. We did see a couple of conservative slow-downs and one mismatch with the posted limit, where we briefly overrode it - useful reminders that this is still a supervised system.

Why should Australian owners care now? Because Tesla’s local leadership says the company is through the regulatory hurdle-hunting and is in the “final stages of validation,” with a phased rollout planned. Public testing here has ramped up for months, including those much-shared clips navigating Melbourne’s hook turns and a full run through Sydney’s streets. That kind of local tuning usually precedes a wider release. ‍

Compatibility will matter. Tesla’s ANZ boss has pointed to an initial release on newer Hardware 4 vehicles, expanding from there as validation allows. If you’re in an earlier car, manage expectations until Tesla confirms support.

Legally, nothing here changes who’s responsible. “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” still requires an attentive, licensed driver, hands-on and eyes forward; Tesla’s own support pages spell that out, and Australia’s current framework allows driver-assist features but not unsupervised operation. In short: this is Level-2-style assistance, not driverless tech.‍

Money will also be a factor. FSD in Australia has historically been offered as a paid add-on of around A$10,100, with subscriptions trialled in other markets; we’re still waiting on updated local pricing or subscription details tied to this release. Our advice is simple: don’t buy until your VIN actually gets the feature, then decide whether the value fits your driving.

The broader context matters. Tesla’s clean, software-first cabin concept has been widely copied, and price competition - especially from Chinese brands - is fierce. A competent, locally-tuned FSD (Supervised) is Tesla’s clearest differentiator right now, and after spending hours letting the car handle the tedious bits, it does make commuting less of a chore. That doesn’t replace the joy of driving for enthusiasts, but it could be the feature that nudges fence-sitters into a Tesla.

Bottom line after our Brisbane drive: FSD (Supervised) feels real, useful and mostly polished, with a few conservative edges we’d expect Tesla to smooth before a broad release. If you own a HW4 Model 3 or Model Y, you’re likely first in line; everyone else should wait for formal compatibility news. And remember - supervised means you’re still the driver.