Senator for SA and Chair of the parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres, Sarah Hanson-Young:
“The big AI companies are getting their hooks into governments at all levels and we need a pause to allow time for public consultation and proper parliamentary scrutiny.
“We need a moratorium on the building and approval of new data centres in Australia until we get the regulations right.
“Today we have seen the SA Malinauskaus Government show they are prepared to sell out South Australia’s clean energy reputation to build more energy sucking data centres.
“The SA Government’s announcement is nothing more than greenwashing, talking up renewables without delivering any commitment to power the new data centres with renewable energy. Their gas mates at Santos are no doubt lining up to ‘bring new energy supply online’ keeping polluting fossil fuels in the system even longer.
“We need a real plan to protect our drinking water and precious River Murray. As the driest state on the driest continent we cannot just hand our water over to big tech.
“Meanwhile in Canberra, Industry Minister Tim Ayres failed to rule out doing a deal with AI companies allowing them to have an exception to copyright laws. This would sell out Australian artists and creative industries.
“We are sleep walking into an AI crisis. Until Australia’s laws are up to the task of regulating the big tech bros and their power-hungry data centres, they should not be given the greenlight to drain our power and water.
“We failed to regulate the big social media companies and are now seeing the massive harm that they can cause. We cannot make the same mistakes with AI companies. Governments must regulate this industry.
“Power hungry data centres are going to be a massive setback in the country’s renewable energy transition. This will eclipse all the work, particularly done by South Australians, to install rooftop solar and build a grid based almost wholly on renewables.
“Until we have proper regulations for the use of energy and precious water and proper protections for Australian artists and businesses we cannot allow a tech bro free for all. Until the necessary safeguards are in place and Australia’s resources are protected, approval and development must be paused.
“Submissions to the Senate inquiry into data centres are currently open. This inquiry will bring some much needed parliamentary scrutiny to this rapidly growing industry.”