The delay to the Tungkillo AI data centre application demonstrates the need for a nationwide moratorium on all data centre developments.
The Greens welcome the delay but warn that Tungkillo is just one of hundreds of AI data centres proposed across the country. Every development must be assessed against consistent national standards.
Greens Senator for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young said:
"Another one bites the dust. Today's announced 'delay' of the Adelaide Hills data factory shows big AI is in retreat as local communities stare the industry down.
"It's time for an urgent moratorium on any new applications, approvals or builds.
"This is a win for the Tungkillo community and proof that when locals stand together, their voices can't be ignored.
"But this fight is far from over, and communities across Australia deserve the same protections.
"Hundreds more data centres are proposed across South Australia, and the country, we can't keep playing wack-a-mole with these data mining factories.
"A moratorium on all new AI data centres is essential until robust national regulations are in place to protect our communities, environment and energy resources from exploitation by Big AI.
"Data centres must earn their social license. Railroading communities, taking their water and pushing up power prices and making inflation worse is not the way to do that.
"South Australia is the driest state on the driest continent. We cannot afford to sacrifice our precious water supplies to feed computer server farms.
"Australia needs rock solid regulations in place before data mining factories are allowed into our communities, consume our water, push up power prices and make the cost of living even harder.
"The Albanese Government must heed the warning from the US midterms and listen to communities across Australia. It's time to stop rolling out the red carpet for trillion dollar AI giants that have repeatedly shown little regard for Australian jobs, our natural resources or our artists and culture.
"Australians are rightly asking what we actually get out of these server farms. Right now, I'm not seeing our return on investment.
