Albanese to Push Datacentre Rules as Australia Sees Power Use Jump 7-Fold by 2035
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Albanese to Push Datacentre Rules as Australia Sees Power Use Jump 7-Fold by 2035
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Summary
Wednesday’s national cabinet talks will see Anthony Albanese seek backing for nationally consistent datacentre rules, saying federal approval laws will complement state regimes rather than override them.
AEMO’s latest outlook sharpened the issue: datacentre electricity demand is projected to rise from 5 TWh to 34 TWh by 2035-36, lifting its share of consumption from 3% to 13%, with a high-growth case of 52 TWh.
The proposed rules would require datacentres to avoid pushing up power prices, fund their own infrastructure, minimise water use and limit impacts on nearby communities; projects already approved would stay under existing state and territory laws.
Albanese also plans a broader AI bill next year covering copyright, security, safety and skills, arguing AI’s benefits should be widely shared while creatives are protected from unpaid use of their work.
Resistance is building from Queensland and the Northern Territory, especially over any requirement to power datacentres with renewables rather than coal or gas, raising the political risk of passing the package before the next election.