The Australian government will introduce legislation establishing national standards for electricity and water consumption by data centers.

Australia will legislate national standards for data centers’ electricity and water use as the government seeks to support AI development while limiting pressure on households and the environment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will outline the proposed obligations at a meeting of state and territory leaders. The government also plans minimum copyright, security, and safety standards for AI model training as it seeks to attract investment.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the rules should prevent states from competing for data centers at the cost of household bills, reliability, or emissions. He said operators may need to provide renewable power backed by gas generation.

Albanese said maintaining public support would require protecting energy bills and water security and choosing appropriate locations for new facilities.