Submissions are now open for the Senate inquiry that will look into artificial intelligence data centres in Australia.
The inquiry, to be chaired by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, comes amid growing community concerns amidst rapid expansion of energy-hungry AI infrastructure and is an opportunity for communities to have their voices heard on how data centres will impact them.
The inquiry will examine the environmental, economic and social impacts of AI data centres, including their energy and water consumption, effects on local communities and Australia’s regulatory system.
Sarah Hanson-Young, Chair of the Artificial intelligence and data centres inquiry and Greens spokesperson for communications, environment and water:
“AI is the new extractive industry and Australia’s regulations are lagging behind.
“Like the gas industry, these massive data miners want to extract Australia’s resources for free, paying very little for the data, water and energy all used to make their huge corporate profits.
“Australia is sleepwalking into an AI catastrophe. If we don’t put the handbrakes on this rapid data centre development our communities, energy, and water resources will be at risk.
“Right now we’re seeing a push across Australia to build huge data mining centres with little community consultation and very little given back to the community – all just to line the pockets of the big tech companies.
“Not only are they extracting our intelligence, our knowledge, and our culture, these big AI data centres are going to be extracting huge amounts of water and energy too.
“The Albanese Government has been courting global AI companies, but where is the transparency? Australians deserve to know what deals are being struck in their name, and who truly benefits from the expansion of this industry.
“There’s a reason why these big tech companies are honing in on Australia right now – they think Australia is easy pickings. Our regulations are weak and don’t protect our communities or our resources.
“Big tech moves fast, never asks questions and bamboozles governments and Australian communities are paying the price.
“Submissions to this inquiry are open now, and the committee wants to hear from everyone whose land, water or local wildlife is on the line.
“We cannot allow Australia to be an unregulated playground for energy-hungry data centres without proper scrutiny, and that’s what this inquiry will provide.”
For more information about the inquiry, see the home page here.