The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia

Senator Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation

Senator Murray Watt, Minister for Environment

Moratorium on all data centre developments now

I write to you to urge you to intervene to control the development of new data centres across Australia.

The current rollout of data centres in Australia is largely unregulated, as state and territory governments seek to maximise the attraction to large developers. By rushing through massive new projects which fail to cover their own emissions through the development of new renewables, governments are facilitating a situation which is likely to derail Australia’s energy transition.

There are many obvious threats and risks associated with the development of data centres, including

• A massive drain of scarce water supplies
• Massive climate pollution impacts
• Growing pressure on existing energy distribution networks, which already often struggle under peak load situations such as heat waves
• The likelihood that development without a similar expansion of renewables will extend the life of carbon polluting coal and fossil gas
• The creation of localised heat impacts on the host communities
• Potential for increases in energy prices which will flow on to local household consumers
• Industrialisation of residential areas 

We call on you to implement an urgent moratorium on further data centre approvals until laws are in place that will regulate this industry to protect the country's energy and water resources, the climate and communities.