Finally, the Rockliff Government is looking at a something that is potentially genuinely leading, and in Tasmania’s interest, when it comes to AI data centres with the announcement of a community benefit fund.
For months the Greens have been telling the Premier and his government that they must do more to ensure the Tasmanian community is protected and benefits from any development of major AI infrastructure.
Today Premier Rockliff is saying “if a community hosts a major development, that community should share directly in the benefit.”
Too right, Premier – that’s exactly what we’ve been saying for months.
The Premier’s announcement of a community benefit fund has the potential to be leading the way ensuring tech companies are giving back to the host community, but the devil will be in the detail on exactly how the scheme will work. What AI companies are expected to pay, how the funds are allocated, and what role the community gets to have, are all significant unknown details.
We eagerly await information about how the scheme will complement other necessary guardrails given the long list of unanswered questions about AI infrastructure in Tasmania that needs urgently addressing. These include clarity on local job guarantees, and whether new energy generation to compensate for power consumed by these resource intensive developments will be on-island.
Ultimately rules and expectations are welcome, but if they’re non-binding – without regulations and legislation – then Tasmania will remain without adequate guardrails.
With consultation on the Rockliff Government’s draft statement of expectation of AI infrastructure closing hours ago, the timing of today’s announcement is curious in the context of other changes to come. Nonetheless, the announcement has the potential to be a good one for Tasmania if the government gets the details right for what effectively seems to be a levy for AI infrastructure companies.
This measure alone cannot buy a social license for AI data centres – the overdue guardrails must also be drafted and implemented.
The Greens will continue doing everything we can to make sure Tasmania and our public resources are protected and benefit from any AI facilities in our state.
