The Labor Government and the Canberra Liberals have joined forces to actively court major technology companies to build large new data centres across Canberra.
In amendments that completely re-wrote Laura Nuttall MLA's motion, the major parties also rejected measures that would ensure communities share in the benefits, protect the environment, or pause further data centre expansion while its impacts are assessed.
Quotes As put by Laura Nuttall MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Water and Air:
"Canberrans are rightly asking tough questions about the explosion of AI powered data centres, their impact on our environment, and what our community gets in return. Today the Labor government and the Liberals made it clear they don't want those questions getting in the way.
"Faced with an opportunity to put safeguards around a fast-growing industry, the major parties instead chose to roll out the red carpet for Big Tech, actively backing more large-scale data centres across Canberra, regardless of community or environmental impact.
"My motion called for common-sense measures: making sure new data centres deliver real benefits for Canberra, fund new renewable energy generation, genuinely consult with Traditional Custodians about their Country, and not driving up water or energy costs for households. Labor and the Liberals stripped those measures out.
"They also rejected calls to explore a levy or other way for the community to share in the profits generated from Canberra's land, water, and energy.
"Given this, the Greens did not feel that in good conscience we could vote for the final rewritten motion.
"If Labor's objective was to reassure worried residents that the Government isn't in Big Tech's pocket, today's vote was a spectacular misfire.
"Today's vote showed that when given a choice between standing up for Canberrans or doing favours for billion dollar tech companies, Labor and the Liberals know exactly whose side they are on.
"The Greens will keep fighting for our community on this issue, and for a framework that puts communities ahead of corporate interests. Right now though, the Government's message to Big Tech seems to be: take the land, take the power, take the water, and don't worry too much about what Canberra gets in return."
