2026-06-24
The Victorian Greens have called for a moratorium on all new large scale data centres in Victoria.
It comes as mega data centre corporation, NEXTDC, bought $165 million worth of land previously earmarked for thousands of new homes on the outskirts of Geelong.
There are currently eight large-scale data centres operating in Victoria but the state is expected to see at least twenty-one operating by 2035.
The Greens have raised the alarm that impacted communities are not being meaningfully consulted.
AI data centres have a huge environmental footprint. They use massive amounts of water and energy and impact biodiversity. They will keep Victoria hooked on coal and gas for longer and even require new gas turbines on site.
The Greens are concerned that power hungry AI data centres are being built in communities, filling neighbourhoods with more trucks, air pollution, constant noise, and raising serious concerns about access to drinking water.
The Greens say unregulated AI is leading to workers losing jobs, creators having their work stolen, and personal data being harvested by big corporations.
The Greens have also raised concerns that these mega AI data centres are being used by massive tech companies, some of whom use their technologies for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons of war.
The Greens are supporting a community led Town Hall Meeting on Thursday 26 June, to stop the Plumpton AI data centre planned for Melbourne’s West.
Quotes attributable to Greens Candidate for Western Metropolitan, Brittney Henderson:
“We’re watching communities that will be most impacted by these AI data centres, learn about these projects in real time. People in the West are scared and angry, and they should be. The air we breathe, the food we grow, and water we rely on as a drought prone country is at risk.”
“Labor uses the West as its dumping ground. We will not be taken for granted. We’re talking to people on the ground, we’re making sure the community is armed with the information and confidence to fight these massive AI data centres. If Labor won’t represent us, it’s time to move aside.”
Quotes attributable to Greens MP for Western Victoria, Sarah Mansfield:
“The Greens are calling for a halt on all new AI data centres until communities are meaningfully consulted and there is a plan to prevent harm to the environment, cultural heritage, and our climate.”
“Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government has rolled out the red carpet for hyperscale AI data centre corporations with no regard for the impact on local communities, cultural heritage, renewable energy targets and the environment.”
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