Ms BADGER question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[11.08 a.m.]
The federal government has released their new expectations of data centres and AI infrastructure developers. Setting expectations is a good start, but much of the urgent task of making sure AI facilities have accountability and strong regulations, leading to good outcomes for our community and environment, rests with state governments. This is a massive and rapidly developing industry and it’s crucial that your government is proactive in its response. Tasmanians have seen you, your colleagues and, since 2018, the OCG offering support to AI project developers and encouraging more of these resource intensive facilities in the state. What legislative and regulatory mechanisms and guardrails have you begun considering or drafting to make sure our Tasmanian community benefits from these facilities and is protected from potential negative consequences?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, this is an opportunity for Tasmania. Obviously, the regulatory environment will need to be robust. We are working through an AI strategy at present and I know that the minister for Innovation, Ms Ogilvie, enjoys talking about these matters.
But, AI is the future and we cannot stop it. We need to embrace it and embrace the opportunity of a new industry, a clean industry coming to Tasmania. That is why I get confused about the Greens’ policy agenda when it’s all about a clean environment, yet they’re against renewable energy, against wind farms, against Hydro, largely, for the last 50 years –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order. The only one who should be speaking right now is the Premier. I do ask interjections to cease from the government as well, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Here’s a clean industry opportunity. I understand, as I’ve said it before in another debate, why the Greens were exercised about the pulp mill in terms of emissions, outflow to the sea, emissions in the sky, and indeed resource security. I understand your position on that, but I don’t fully appreciate or understand why you’re so against renewable energy opportunities and clean energy industries.
Ms BADGER – Point of order under 45, relevance. We’re actually not disagreeing with you, Premier. We’re asking which regulations and legislative mechanisms are in place to do all of these things you’re talking about. Are there any?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I’m informed we’re working through a strategy now. Of course we’ll ensure that there is much community consultation with respect to those matters. I thank you for raising it.
Supplementary Question
Ms BADGER – Largely the AI strategy has been about the ethical and humane use of AI, which is fantastic. We fully support that as we should have that. There’s also the physical infrastructure and resource extraction of the AI facilities themselves, which is what I’m talking about, so Premier, I’m just going to ask again: what strategies or legislative framework or direction are you heading in for the physical infrastructure and resource extraction itself?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order. Ms Badger, this is your second warning.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Earlier last year I walked through and visited Firmus in Launceston and I was enormously impressed with the organisation and the opportunity it presents for Tasmania. As I understand it, they are investing some $2 billion into northern Tasmania, which is an extraordinary investment, if my memory serves me correctly. There are other opportunities, as I understand it, with respect to AI factories and data centres. They are creative, innovative people who want to invest in Tasmania. While regulation is important, of course, and we will ensure that is as robust as I have said and I’m happy to have that community conversation when it comes to our AI strategy which I’ve detailed in terms of working through that at the moment. I thank the honourable member for her question.
