Albanese’s AI blueprint sparks calls for datacentre moratorium until new regulations in place

<p>Prime minister’s plan will create energy regulations for datacentres in Australia</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Environmental and community groups have called for a pause on datacentre development until new regulations are in place after Anthony Albanese promised “greater clarity and speed” over their approval.</p><p>In his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/15/office-of-ai-artificial-intelligence-copyright-australia-government">landmark speech on artificial intelligence</a> at the University of Sydney on Wednesday, the prime minister said Australia would create a legal obligation for large-scale datacentres to underwrite new power supply, pay their full share of grid connection, and add as much energy to the grid as they take out of it.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/16/albaneses-ai-blueprint-sparks-calls-for-datacentre-moratorium-until-new-regulations-in-place">Continue reading...</a>