Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council | Questions Without Notice
1 April 2026
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
My question is for the Premier. The federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources has released the Expectations of Data Centres and AI Infrastructure Developers.
These guidelines include expectations that data centres will supply additional clean energy, limit demand on the grid, pay for network connection costs, adhere to water efficiency guidelines and contribute to skills development. These guidelines capture the concerns of many Victorians. They will need to be actioned through state regulation on a whole-of-government basis, and the Commonwealth has said it will prioritise proposals that meet them.
With a live application to triple the size of the NEXTDC data centre in West Footscray, and the nearby Perri data centre already approved, will the government be applying the Commonwealth’s expectations to these concerning proposals?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council):
I thank Mr Ettershank for his question for the Premier, and I am very happy to direct that to her for an answer within the standing orders.
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
Thank you, Minister. Residents adjoining the completed first stage of the NEXTDC centre are subject to the incessant hum of air conditioning and intense light pollution. They describe it as nightmarish.
The planning approval for the NEXTDC site in Port Melbourne was rushed through in just 75 days; however, its location means it does not impact on residential amenity. West Footscray residents believe the expansion of these data centres will be approved with no consideration of the impacts on their health and wellbeing or possible sanity.
Pending a whole-of-government response to the development of data centres, can the Premier give an undertaking that the West Footscray application will not be similarly fast-tracked?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council):
I will pass the supplementary question on to the Premier for response.
Written answer received: 02 April 2026
Victoria has already developed and published the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan with extensive input from industry, power and water utilities and experts across government to inform how Victoria can become the national leader in data centre investment.
The Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan will leverage our state’s critical assets – land, energy and talent – to unlock projects in the pipeline worth up to $25 billion in potential capital expenditure and create thousands of jobs.
All development applications for the required planning permit approvals are considered on their merits and in accordance with the relevant planning scheme and site context.
Hon Jacinta Allan MP
(Premier)
[Ends]
