Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for an immediate moratorium on the construction and approval of new datacentres in Australia until proper regulations are in place, warning the nation is “sleepwalking” into an artificial intelligence crisis. She said tech companies could be handed a “greenlight to drain our power and water” without adequate oversight.
Pocock challenges government on copyright rules
The independent senator David Pocock separately challenged the Albanese government to prevent tech giants from using Australian content to train AI models, as cabinet considers competing proposals to change copyright rules. During Senate question time on Tuesday, Pocock raised concerns about intense lobbying from AI proprietors over potential new rules, including suggestions that Labor might create a new “carve out” or extend existing licensing arrangements.
Guardian Australia has learned that competing cabinet submissions are in train, with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and the Attorney-General’s Department divided over the best approach. Ministers could choose between establishing new exemptions from copyright rules in exchange for greater investment in Australian-hosted datacentres, or a possible licensing extension to cover AI model developments. Under that proposal, AI companies could use Australian content to train their commercial products, and a new fund for creative industries could be established.
Government accused of reckless speculation
Pocock said he had been provided information indicating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was preparing to announce a plan on or about 15 July, potentially offering expedited approvals and investment for new datacentres. However, the industry minister, Tim Ayres, accused Pocock of being reckless in airing the questions publicly. Ayres said the government would not permit “undermining of copyright protections” as it considers possible new regulations for AI, and praised the assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy, Andrew Charlton, for his handling of AI policy.
“It is absolutely our intention to do what we can to make sure that people who produce content in Australia, who are currently getting ripped off all around the world … we are looking at that question,” Ayres told the Senate. He added that it was in Australia’s national interest to have sovereign capability in technology, particularly where there was competitive advantage. “It is not this government’s view that we should just be a cork bobbing on the ocean of other people’s technology and a customer at the long end of technology supply chains, that is not in our interest. It sells out future generations.”
Hanson-Young: ‘Tech bro free-for-all’ must be paused
Hanson-Young, who chairs a parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence and datacentres, said Australia should not allow a “tech bro free-for-all” on the country’s resources. “We are sleepwalking into an AI crisis. Until Australia’s laws are up to the task of regulating the big tech bros and their power-hungry datacentres, they should not be given the greenlight to drain our power and water,” she said. “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.”
The former industry minister Ed Husic had argued for new AI guardrails and consideration of a major new act, but he was dumped from cabinet in 2025. Ayres, his successor, is in favour of a lighter-touch approach. A spokesperson for Ayres told Guardian Australia that Pocock’s claims were incorrect. “That is inaccurate. The government has ruled out a text and data mining exception. Our position has not changed.”
