Independent senator David Pocock has questioned how Australians will benefit from the rapid expansion of AI datacentres, arguing that major investments in the sector should deliver a fair return to the public.
In an opinion piece, Pocock highlighted the scale of recent technology investment flowing into Australia. He noted that Microsoft has announced plans to invest $25 billion in Australian datacentres, while Amazon Web Services has committed a further $20 billion.
Pocock said the federal government has welcomed the projects, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly supporting the investments alongside company leaders.
However, he argued that growing community concerns about AI infrastructure and datacentre construction should not be ignored.
“At a time when economic growth is sluggish, the government sees billions of dollars in investment as making for a good headline,” Pocock wrote.
He said the more important question is whether Australians will receive meaningful benefits from the projects.
“What is this all for and how do the Australian people benefit from it?” Pocock asked.
The senator argued that as Australia plays a larger role in supporting the global AI industry, policymakers should ensure the economic gains are shared fairly with the Australian public.