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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Henry Belot

Datacentre giant accused of using AI while lobbying for Victorian minister’s support for hyperscale factory

Melissa Horne NextDC Craig Scroggie Victoria Artificial Intelligence Labor
The logo of Australian data centre operator NextDC
NextDC has lodged an application with the Victorian government for fast-tracked approval to expand its controversial datacentre known as M3 in Footscray to cover 10 hectares. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The Victorian jobs minister has accused one of Australia’s largest datacentre companies of using artificial intelligence while requesting she lobby her colleague to approve a massive expansion of its “hyperscale AI factory”.

Correspondence between Victorian cabinet minister Melissa Horne and the chief executive of ASX-listed company NextDC, Craig Scroggie, reveals increasing sensitivity to community concerns about datacentres before the state election.

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