This submission to the Senate Inquiry focuses on the following Terms of Reference:

• the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks in managing the growth of data centres in Australia, including in relation to existing and future deals between the Australian Government and global artificial intelligence (AI) companies
• the potential impacts of AI and data centres on Australian communities, industries and the environment, water and energy.

The submission focuses on the need for a stronger whole-of-life public accountability framework for data centres in Australia, treating them as infrastructure with significant environmental, social, cultural and public interest implications rather than as routine industrial development alone. It argues that Australia should halt the fast-tracking of data centre developments immediately and develop a rigorous, public interest regulatory framework. 

The submission considers the existing regulatory framework around approvals, the need for processes based around community consent, and the importance of operational monitoring and reporting and subsequent decommissioning requirements that strengthen public accountability. Finally, it provides lessons from other jurisdictions that illustrate the potential for effective, targeted regulation. Together, these stages provide the structure for a stronger public accountability framework that serves the public interest and protects the environment of Australia.