Datacentre power struggle shows Albanese must hold the line against big tech and fossil fuels

‘A framework that strengthens communities and reduces reliance on carbon-heavy power supply shouldn’t be traded away in the first steps on legislating AI,’ Tom McIlroy writes. The PM with state and territory leaders this week. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Tucked away at the end of a media release from the Australian Energy Market Operator this week was a data point worthy of national attention.

Releasing its annual snapshot of electricity supply and demand, the regulator revealed consumption by datacentres in Australia was forecast to increase from about 3% of all electricity supplied through the national grid today to about 13% by 2035.