Australia may face a rush of datacentre construction as AI firms look to avoid upcoming rules
Planned datacentres around Australia may avoid strict new rules being proposed by Anthony Albanese if they can secure approvals in the coming months, amid growing calls for a moratorium.
The prime minister is aiming to come to an agreement with national cabinet on federal regulations for datacentres at a meeting on Wednesday.
The rules will require datacentres to avoid pushing up power prices – including by bringing renewable energy to the grid to cover their electricity demands – while meeting their own connection costs and minimising water use.
Developers will also need to ensure their datacentres are appropriately sized and located away from schools, homes, potential housing or agricultural locations.
