Albanese seeks to quell datacentre disquiet as climate expert warns ‘we’ve got one shot to get the rules right’

Prime minister will use national cabinet meeting to assuage premiers over new AI law as AEMO forecasts seven-fold rise in datacentre power use Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese will seek to use Wednesday’s high-stakes talks with premiers to quell growing unhappiness about national controls on datacentre developments , promising new approval laws will complement state rules. Faced with growing opposition from conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Albanese will tell national cabinet he plans a major piece of legislation next year to ensure the economic benefits of AI are shared widely. The meeting on Wednesday will come after the latest forecast from the Australian Energy Market Operator showing datacentre power use is projected to increase seven-fold over the next decade. Datacentre electricity demand was expected to grow from 5 to 34 terawatt hours by 2035-36, the report said, growing from 3% of overall consumption to 13%.

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