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Feedlot to Fibre: PM Jeered over Social Licence, States Split on Data Power Plan
Premier David Crisafulli won an exemption after weeks of dispute, as federal plans would have required data centres to offset power use with renewables.
- Queensland Premier David Crisafulli secured an exemption at Wednesday's national cabinet meeting, allowing the state to power data centers using coal and gas instead of exclusively renewable energy.
- Energy Minister Chris Bowen previously threatened to override states with legislation mandating new data centers use only renewables, a position Crisafulli dismissed as "smacks of ideology" ignoring economic realities.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the federal government will proceed with national legislation setting standards for water and land-use, while acknowledging "different states have different issues" regarding energy grids.
- Queensland and the Northern Territory may now utilize fossil fuels for data centers "if there is surplus," a concession Albanese said accommodates their state-controlled power systems.
- Australia faces rapid data center expansion, with $6.5 billion invested in the first three months of this year, as the Australian Energy Market Operator predicts energy consumption will grow to 13% within a decade.
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Albanese to stare down national cabinet data centre stoush
Premiers are heading into national cabinet divided over how Australia should meet the rapidly growing energy demands of AI data centres, with fuel security, domestic violence rates and gun law talks on the table.
·Ultimo, Australia
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Meeting of National Cabinet
National Cabinet met in Sydney today to discuss a range of priorities affecting Australians, including Australia’s new artificial intelligence laws, progressing policies to end gender-based violence, firearm reform following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi, avian flu transferring to mammals, and fuel security in light of the ongoing serious conflict in the Middle East.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 36%
C 64%
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