Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Henry Belot and Jonathan Barrett

‘These guys are just coming from nothing’: questions over multibillion-dollar Firmus float amid datacentre backlash

Kayla Thompson with members of a group campaigning against a Firmus datacentre in Tasmania, Australia
‘Their consultation was nonexistent’ … Kayla Thompson with members of a group campaigning against the Firmus AI datacentre at St Leonards, Tasmania. Photograph: Sarah Rhodes/The Guardian

From her balcony in Launceston, Kayla Thompson can see the buzz of construction at what will soon be one of Australia’s first AI factories. Her teenage stepchildren get an even clearer view from their classroom window.

Like many of her neighbours, Thompson didn’t realise Firmus Technologies had an ambitious plan to build datacentres in Tasmania until after construction began. The Australian company was on a mission, and preparing to list on the ASX later this month after an anticipated initial public offering designed to raise $7bn from investors.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.