The Guardian · 26 Sep, 22:00 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Australian backlash to datacentres is faux import from US, officials say: ‘We are not the United States’

Australian officials are countering growing public resistance to new datacentre developments by asserting that local opposition is an imported narrative from the United States.

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Australian officials are countering growing public resistance to new datacentre developments by asserting that local opposition is an imported narrative from the United States. They emphasise that Australia’s regulatory and social context differs significantly, arguing that fears regarding resource consumption and community impact are being misapplied. The government aims to reassure stakeholders that domestic infrastructure expansion is managed within appropriate national frameworks, distinct from the contentious debates observed across the Pacific.

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