The Australian Government is committed to ensuring AI works in Australia's interests. We want to embrace the opportunities of AI but make sure it is used safely and responsibly. This means supporting our workers, protecting our resources and sharing benefits across society.
To achieve this, the Australian Government is developing Australia’s AI standards. The standards will be a national framework for the development of AI models and the infrastructure that enables it. This will help support investment and innovation, while protecting our communities and resources.
The Australian Government will work with states and territories to create mandatory standards for how data centres use energy, water and land, and how AI training can support skills and industry development. The standards will work together with state and territory planning and approval processes. The government then plans to legislate these standards.
AI capability is advancing quickly. Australia has an opportunity to shape how it is developed and used. The decisions made now will influence how AI impacts our economy, jobs, security, communities, industry and environment in the years ahead.
Why we are consulting
We want to hear from Australians about how AI should be developed, used and governed in ways that advance our national interest.
This consultation will help inform the development of Australia’s AI standards. This means the views of all Australians can be considered in the development of an effective and trusted framework for AI.
We are seeking views and feedback on:
- Managing the growth in large data centres and AI training.
- Requirements for large data centres.
- Conditions for AI training.
Large data centres
AI technology requires large data centres to store information and perform complex computing tasks. These facilities bring investment opportunities, create jobs and support innovation. They can also require a large amount of land, electricity and water.
Attracting investment in data centres and AI training capabilities can strengthen Australia’s national security, business productivity, resilience and innovation. But without careful planning, a rapid increase in new facilities could put pressure on our resources and impact our communities. A national framework will provide a clear approach to assessing, planning and managing the needs of these facilities while protecting our communities and resources.
This consultation will help the government to understand:
- how data centres are impacting our communities and resources
- what safeguards could help manage the impacts on energy, water and land resources
- what level of transparency and reporting should be expected from data centre operators
- how data centres can make positive contributions to our economy and communities.
AI training
AI training is the process of teaching an AI model how to perform tasks. This is done by exposing it to very large amounts of data and complex calculations. Training creates and improves the AI model.
Hosting more AI training in Australia would allow us to play a bigger role in developing the next generation of AI technologies. This will attract investment, support Australian research and innovation, and create highly-skilled jobs.
This consultation will help the government to understand:
- whether our current policies, regulations and infrastructure can support AI training in Australia
- what safety and security safeguards are needed
- how AI developers could contribute to Australian research, innovation, training and capability
- what barriers may limit investment.
Copyright
The government is committed to supporting Australian writers, musicians, artists, journalists and others working in the creative and media sectors. Copyright plays an important role in the development of Australia's approach to AI.
Due to ongoing work already underway in this area, copyright policy is outside the scope of this consultation. The Attorney-General will continue to lead stakeholder consultation to determie how Australia can support AI training while maintaining strong copyright protections for creators and rights holders.
Who we want to hear from
AI will influence many aspects of Australia's future. We want to hear from a wide range of voices. This will help to ensure our standards meet community expectations and support broad economic and social benefits.
We welcome contributions from anyone with an interest in Australia’s AI future.
This includes:
- members of the public
- industry peak bodies
- Australian businesses
- technology developers and providers
- researchers, academics and educational institutions
- workers and professional associations
- consumer and community organisations.
Have your say
Please read the full consultation paper before making a submission.
The paper explains important information about proposed requirements, why they are being considered, and what we are seeking feedback on.
You can then complete the online submission form to share your views on AI infrastructure and AI training in Australia.
Consultation period
Opens: 9 am AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Thursday 17 September 2026.
Closes: 5 pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) Friday 9 October 2026.
Note: We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to summarise and compare submissions to support policy work. This includes using AI tools to analyse sentiment to help us understand patterns and trends in submissions. We only use AI where it is appropriate for the task and the information involved. For more information refer to our AI transparency statement.
Next steps
This consultation is one of several ways the government is gathering feedback. Responses received through the submission form will be considered alongside targeted stakeholder engagement and ongoing work with Commonwealth, state and territory governments. Together, this feedback will help inform the development of Australia's AI standards.