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ARTICLE · 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

Australia's AI Infrastructure Consultation: Proposed Standards For Data Centres And Frontier AI

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
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The Australian Government has released a consultation paper proposing national mandatory minimum standards for data centres (Consultation Paper), as part of its broader AI standards initiative.

AustraliaTechnology
Aaron White
Aaron White
Mary Do
Mary Do
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The Australian Government has released a consultation paper proposing national mandatory minimum standards for data centres (Consultation Paper), as part of its broader AI standards initiative. The Consultation Paper establishes a tiered framework governing energy, water, community and workforce obligations, and separately seeks feedback on conditions for frontier AI training in Australia.

Several large data centre projects currently progressing through approvals may be captured by the standards before becoming operational. 

Submissions close at 5pm AEDT on 9 October 2026.

Background

On 15 July 2026, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will introduce AI laws in Australia's interests.

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