They underpin cloud computing, banking, telecommunications, government services, healthcare, research, business systems and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. They will also be important to Australia’s sovereign digital capability. Australia cannot sensibly depend entirely on computing infrastructure located overseas. So, the question is no longer whether Australia should build data centres.

The National AI plan 2025 focuses on three national goals: capturing the opportunities, spreading the benefits, and keeping Australians safe. With nine core actions and one of the largest waves of digital investment in Australian history, this plan sets a clear direction for responsible, inclusive, and future-focused AI growth.