16 June, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Hon. Kyam Maher, the minister representing the Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy, on the topic of data centres.
Leave granted.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Earlier this month, it was announced that the South Australian government struck a deal with the company IREN to build a $10 billion data centre in Bundey in the state's Mid North. The site is expected to house a whopping 800-megawatt data centre, more than two times bigger than any data centre built in Australia to date. My question to the minister representing the Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy is: how much water and energy will the new data centre in the Mid North use and is the minister concerned about the potential for AI to displace local jobs?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Arts, Special Minister of State) (14:55): I am happy to refer those to the relevant minister in another place and bring back a reply. Some of that may be the Minister for AI and Digital Economy, some of it may touch on other ministers' portfolios, but I am happy to refer those to colleagues and bring back a reply.