Anthony Albanese to fast-track datacentre approvals for AI investment

newsJul 14, 202615164

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will introduce faster approval processes for AI projects, including datacentres, and establish a new Office of AI inside the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to coordinate that work. He will say Australia aims to become the first country to bring economic, social, national security and environmental issues from AI into a single national framework, and that streamlined approvals will boost investor certainty. The office is to work with industry and with the minister for industry and innovation, Tim Ayres, and assistant science and technology minister, Andrew Charlton, to design Australian AI standards and coordinate cross-government activity. Albanese pointed to existing government AI work, including GovAI and a new multi-stage finance department procurement asking industry to build AI tools for service delivery and policy. Excerpts of the speech do not detail changes to copyright law, an area where AI companies are seeking carve-outs. The government frames the move as managing national security risks after a defence strategy described AI and machine learning as the most significant technological disruption ahead.

Sista Cate Ruth ♿

@sistacatruthpurry.bsky.social

Albanese is going to fast track approval of data centres. Isn't that the same as fast tracking unemployment and mass surveillance? #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

427h ago

You Think You Have Time9

I want to know where the water will be coming from? Why do we need these damned things so bloody suddenly? Fucking sellout. So fucking disgusted by the ALP.

darrentmn.bsky.social3

They’ve got Angus to sort them out a deal on the water so they only need to pay for the electricity.

Tim Hollo

@timhollo.bsky.social

Albo’s grand plan for AI? Step on the gas (literally) and make it even easier for these massive, extractive corporations to build fossil-fuelled data centres. This is unpopular and thoughtless policy. The whole system underpinning this is bankrupt.

252h ago

Jack M Davenport

@jackmdavenport.bsky.social

Utterly detached from reality. What a terrible approach. Will wait to hear the speech but, his credibility looks sunk. Difficult to see how this doesn’t lead to environmental disaster. #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

129h ago

Jessica D. M. 🇺🇦 🇦🇺 🇨🇦 🇵🇦 🇬🇱 🪃 🟧

@jessicaperthwa.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/technology/2.... Never mind that they push up power bills due to how much power they use, how much water they need and how they effect climate in a negative way. Greens look the only option #Auspol @albomp.bsky.social

186h ago

Lizzy Schofield3

So much to consider . Cancelling Palantir contracts should be top priority along with the damage to our world 👇 A must watch that should terrify us all www.instagram.com/reel/Dax3kEb...

healthbud.bsky.social1

Albanese will be remembered as the Prime Minister who spent more time on his knees in front of foreign corporations and governments than any one before him. He’s a total suck

Sharty Mcscrote (Sandy D AU) 🍉🍉

@shartymcscrote.bsky.social

YOU FUCKING TRAITOROUS CUNT #GetThisFuckerOutOfOfficeToday #auspol #IHateYouAlbo Data Centres For HIS FUTURE PROFIT and Our Country's Demise. This guy is a fucking scumbag,I want him OUT www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

134h ago

Michel Hogan

@michelhogan.bsky.social

No no no no no no Need some 'not in my backyard' action on this stuff. Let the government know this is NOT what people want. #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

109h ago

latestarter99.bsky.social

@latestarter99.bsky.social

In the ongoing series of @albomp.bsky.social 's spectacular inability to read a room (gas tax, anyone?), this time he rolls out the shortcut red carpet to AI data centres. Are all mainstream pollies in the pocket of the AI industry? #ffs #ai #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

715h ago

Annie Parker

@annieparker.bsky.social

This had better be fucking good. I want to see stringent copyright laws, strong as fuck stipulations around zero impact on the environment & that local communities are amply compensated when things go wrong with those data centres (because they will). www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

67h ago

Theo Arman

@theoarman.bsky.social

When do the people of Australia begin the uprising to prevent yet another U.S. company coming here to destroy our environment and steal our copyrights? #auspol #americansout

88h ago

Letters for the Environment Central Australia

@letterscentral.bsky.social

Signs you listened to industry: standards and incentives Signs you listened to the public: laws and penalties/exclusions www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

411h ago

jackhsmit.bsky.social

@jackhsmit.bsky.social

Today we'll learn whether Australia will be CONSUMED by #Datacentres or whether #Albo has The Guts to Switch Them Off Before We All Die. #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

67h ago

Adele

@theartofcharts.bsky.social

I'll say this for Albanese. He never encountered a test of his principles that he couldn't flunk (usually while talking about his Mum). We don't need faster approval processes for data centres: we need to give them the boot. They're environmental disasters and we already have enough of those.

43h ago

Friends of the Earth Australia

@foe.org.au

'Anthony Albanese says the federal government will introduce faster approval processes for AI projects, including datacentres, across Australia'. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

37h ago

Ignoble Jim R Houghton

@jimrhoughton.bsky.social

Oh FFS. He's running off the FOMO cliff at full pelt with blindfold on. Australians at risk but political donations$$$$ already in bank. Dupe. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

32h ago

Miree

@miree.bsky.social

Is there anything else he wants to take the completely wrong position on? #auspol www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

35h ago

1 source

theguardian.comAnthony Albanese promises fast-track approvals for datacentres to shore up AI investment

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Anthony Albanese to fast-track datacentre approvals for AI investment

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