Coalition and Greens back tighter scrutiny of rural data centres
The Coalition and newly led Greens are showing rare agreement. They want to examine large data centre and renewable projects. These projects would use agricultural land.
City opposition to data centres is pushing developers into regional Australia. This is triggering an unusual political alliance.
The Greens' new leader, David Shoebridge, said Labor would no longer get a blank cheque. Projects that damage farmland, forests or threatened species won't be supported.
Coalition energy spokesman Dan Tehan welcomed the move. The Opposition said it would work with the Greens on scrutiny.
Under national standards agreed in August, data centre developers must offset their power use. They do this with new renewable generation and battery storage.
Queensland and the Northern Territory secured a possible exception. They could power new data centres using gas and coal.
Victoria, NSW and other states are each setting their own data centre rules. More than 200 proposals are moving through approval processes.
The debate shows governments trying to support Australia as an AI hub. At the same time, they are protecting rural land and local communities.
- David Shoebridge
- Greens leader
- Dan Tehan
- Coalition spokesman
- More than 200
- Proposals in approval
Why it mattersPolitical rivals are finding common ground. They agree on the real costs of rapid infrastructure growth. This is a rare moment of agreement in federal parliament.
AustraliaData centre policy will shape where new developments land; tighter farmland protections could redirect investment or slow approvals for rural projects.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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