MEDIA RELEASE: If a petrol station and a wind turbine need automatic EPA approval, shouldn’t an AI data centre?

If a petrol station and a wind turbine need automatic EPA approval, shouldn’t an AI data centre?
 
Independent Member for Clark Helen Burnet has said it was entirely appropriate the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) was called as the first witness to Tasmania’s AI Data Centre Inquiry.

“The EDO brings considerable expertise in environmental law and regulatory frameworks, and its evidence provides an important independent assessment of whether Tasmania’s existing laws are fit for purpose.

“The Government claims Tasmania has well-established planning, environmental, infrastructure and regulatory processes to assess and manage the impacts of mega AI Data Centres. Based on their evidence today, I’d say the EDO strongly disagrees. 

“The EDO have recommended significant changes to Tasmania’s planning frameworks to ensure AI Data Centre proposals are properly assessed, and that communities have meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions affecting them.” 

When asked by Ms Burnet about why a wind farm tower or petrol station require an automatic environmental assessment by the EPA but a data centre does not, Mae Tanner, EDO Managing Solicitor, expressed concerns that not all AI data centre development applications were automatically assessed by the EPA and suggested a simple legislative amendment could be made to ensure this occurs. 

In evidence today, the EDO has called on the State Government to impose a moratorium on all AI data centre approvals until it has legislated a framework to ensure development is sustainable and impacts on the environment, First Nations and communities more generally are avoided