Tucked away at the end of a media release from the Australian Energy Market Operator this week was a data point worthy of national attention.

Releasing its annual snapshot of electricity supply and demand, the regulator revealed consumption by datacentres in Australia was forecast to increase from about 3% of all electricity supplied through the national grid today to about 13% by 2035.

High growth in the soulless warehouses powering the AI boom is on track to see their total electricity consumption reach 52 terawatt hours – a tenfold increase over the decade. In addition to 165 datacentres already operating around the country, another 225 are in development.

It’s little wonder that local MPs, especially in the major growth areas of Sydney and Melbourne, are closely tracking the hyperlocal politics of these controversial developments, or that the Albanese government is gearing up for a major legislative push on AI soon after the summer break.

That plan – confirmed this week to include not only nationally consistent planning and environmental laws, but also tough new copyright protections for the work of Australian writers, film-makers, artists and journalists – could be one of the major fights in parliament between now and the next federal election. The new laws will be designed to maximise the opportunity of AI’s development, and control the challenges stemming from the large infrastructure required.

But landing the plan, including tough negotiations with state leaders and cashed-up interests in the powerful global........

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