Greens MLA Laura Nuttall brought forward a motion calling on the Government to create an ACT Data Centre Framework and to enact a moratorium on new data centres until the framework is in place.

Her calls for a new Framework specified that it should require data centres to: (A) demonstrate clear and enduring local economic and social benefits for Canberra including opportunities for local employment, skills development and community wealth building as a primary threshold for approval; (B) purchase or create additional 100 percent renewable energy to match their demand by using Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO); (C) ensure they do not increase electricity or water prices for Canberra households; (D) use flexible demand, backed by renewable solutions; (E) meet the full costs of any energy, water or utility infrastructure upgrades attributable to their development or expansion; (F) implement best practice water and energy efficiency as standard, currently closed loop water use; (G) be battery backup only, that is, not diesel generator backup; and (H) be sustainable in demands on the ACT’s limited water supply.

The Liberals introduced amendments removing the majority of these calls and adding calls on the ACT Government to actively promote the Territory as a data centre and digital infrastructure investment destination. 

Labor then sought to amend the Liberal’s amendments by adding further calls to collaborate with the Commonwealth and NSW Governments on matters relating to energy, water, digital infrastructure and regional planning associated with data centre investment. 

The Greens then introduced amendments attempting to reinsert some of what had been lost from the original motion, calling on the Government require new data centre projects to buy or create 100 per cent renewable electricity to meet the additional demand required; require data centres to use closed loop water cooling and be sustainable on the ACT’s limited water supply; and consult First Nations Traditional Custodians on any greenfield data centre developments. 

The Greens’ amendments were voted down by Labor, the Liberals, and independent Leanne Castley, despite support from Thomas and independent Fiona Carrick. 

Thomas voiced community concerns about the impacts of major data centres and moved amendments to acknowledge that without appropriate regulation, the rapid growth of data centres can contribute to higher household energy and water bills and can undermine emissions reduction targets; that the ACT is vulnerable to water stress from drought, climate change and population growth, and its biodiversity is in decline; and that data centres can exacerbate negative ecological and water supply impacts. The amendments also called on the ACT Government to ensure that any data centres approved between now and the commencement of the new framework meet or exceed the standards set out in the motion. 

Thomas’ amendments were also voted down by Labor, the Liberals, and Ms Castley, while being supported by the Greens and Ms Carrick.

The motion, as amended by the Liberals and Labor, was opposed by the Greens, Ms Carrick and Thomas. It passed with the support of Labor, the Liberals, and Ms Castley.

Crossbench members opposed the heavily amended motion on the basis that the final version that had been negotiated between the major parties removed several commonsense commitments that focused on maximising community benefit from new data centres while mitigating the environmental, energy and water-supply risks they entail.