cross-posted from: aussie.zone/post/34200893
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Greens demand halt on AI data centres as thousands sign petition
The Greens say a petition calling for a moratorium on AI data centres has drawn more than 4,200 signatures in under a week, reflecting widespread community concern.
David Killick
@davidjkillick
2 min read
June 29, 2026 - 3:06PMStrong support for a petition calling for a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centres showed the community was concerned by a number of proposals underway or being considered, the Greens say.
The party’s Science and Information Technology spokeswoman Tabatha Badger said the petition had attracted more than 4,200 signatures in under a week.
“This is an unprecedented number by Tasmanian Parliamentary petition standards,” she said.
“Tasmanians were not consulted before the Liberals rushed in to supporting the unregulated expansion of AI data facilities in the state.
“The implications of the expansion of data factories in Tasmania is still unclear, with their large energy and water consumption of particular concern. Questions around waste management and thermal impacts are also unanswered.”
Ms Badger said a trio of proposals by Singaporean company Firmus would require 440MW of electricity, making the start-up the state’s biggest energy consumer.
By contrast with other major industrial power clients, she said, they would result in relatively few long term jobs.
“The interests of Tasmanians should be protected above those of big private tech companies,” she said.
“The Greens and thousands of community members are calling for an immediate moratorium on AI data facilities in the state until guardrails are in place.
“With so many questions remaining unanswered about the impact on the environment and communities of AI data facilities, we need a moratorium until there are guardrails to protect Tasmanian people and our public resources.”
Minister for Planning Kerry Vincent said the new data centres presented both opportunities and challenges.
“How great it is for a business to be investing $2.7bn into Tasmania, that’s just staggering numbers,” he said.
“It is a new industry and it does take a bit to get your head around what data centers are and their requirements and everything.
“It great that 4000 people have stood up and signed a petition for us all to sit back and think about and work through the different processes.
“They have to apply for planning permission like anybody else.
“They have to go through the different levels of departments to make sure that everything is secure for them, and that’s why we have these processes in place.
“What’s also great is that 4000 people had the confidence to put their name on a petition who would like to have more discussion and more information on it, and that’s what we’re here to do as a government: talk to those people and understand it and explain things much better.”