Greens leader calls for AI data centre moratorium in Hobart

Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the state was exposed if it did not stand up to data centres drawing on its electricity and water. She said nothing substantial was in place to protect local places, and that Premier Jeremy Rockliff had simply waved proposals forward.

Shoebridge also pointed to this week’s US midterm elections, where he said voters had rejected large data centres across around 34 state ballot contests. He described US voters as two or three years ahead of the curve. Woodruff said that if any data centres proceed, Tasmanians want very strong guardrails around them.

The numbers

Pulse reported that a document tabled in parliament in September disclosed six confidential data centre proposals being worked on with the Office of the Coordinator-General. Two are for 200 to 300 megawatts each.

Woodruff said the Sheffield site was only revealed because the Greens asked questions at the parliamentary inquiry into data centres, and that the community is speculating about further locations. She also said it seemed Firmus was not as forthcoming with the EPA about its power generation plans in its initial proposal. Pulse did not report a response from Firmus.

What’s next

Both governments responded. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, also speaking on Friday, called data centres a real opportunity for the country while saying the federal government must get the social licence right. In his view operators should supply their own power and water, and national standards and laws are being prepared to steer facilities to suitable sites.

Innovation and Science Minister Felix Ellis said the Tasmanian Government welcomes responsible data centre and AI infrastructure investment, which it says brings growth, skilled jobs and digital capability to the state. He said details of the community benefit fund and the final statement of expectations for developers would be released in coming weeks.

The Australian Developer