Significant community concerns about the unregulated expansion of AI data centres across Tasmania is evidenced by the thousands of signatories on a new Parliamentary petition calling for a moratorium.
The Greens’ sponsored petition calling for a moratorium on AI data facilities until essential guardrails are established has attracted more than 4,200 signatures in under a week. This is an unprecedented number by Tasmanian Parliamentary petition standards.
Tasmanians were not consulted before the Liberals rushed in to supporting the unregulated expansion of AI data facilities in the state. The implications of the expansion of data factories in Tasmania is still unclear, with their large energy and water consumption of particular concern. Questions around waste management and thermal impacts are also unanswered.
Firmus’ 440MW proposal for three data facilities in Tasmania would make the Singaporean based company Tasmania’s largest energy consumer. Compared to the major industrials, the number of long-term jobs AI and data centres will support by comparison to their consumption of the states power supply is extremely low.
The interests of Tasmanians should be protected above those of big private tech companies. The Greens and thousands of community members are calling for an immediate moratorium on AI data facilities in the state until guardrails are in place.
With so many questions remaining unanswered about the impact on the environment and communities of AI data facilities, we need a moratorium until there are guardrails to protect Tasmanian people and our public resources. The Greens intend to explore these protections and make recommendations as part of a parliamentary inquiry we are working toward establishing as an urgent priority.
Guardrails would include legislation and regulation that addresses social and environmental impacts, as well as a guarantee for local jobs. Other methods proposed by the petition include a public transparency register on energy and water consumption, a mechanism for parliament oversight on future AI data centre expansion, and protection for Tasmanian households from utility price increases.
It’s past time the Liberal Government heard the community concerns and pause the expansion of AI data centres until safeguards are in place.
