Tech firms lobby Australian inquiry to boost domestic AI and data-centre sovereignty

A federal inquiry into artificial intelligence entered its second day, interrogating major tech players about their expansion across Australia. ResetData submitted that domestic oversight is essential to retain sufficient infrastructure, skills and operational capacity for strategically important workloads under Australian control, warning that such capability cannot be built quickly in a crisis. Macquarie Technology echoed the need for locally owned data centres, stressing that ownership, not just location, determines sovereign control and crisis-time access.

The probe also examined AI safety organisations Gradient Institute and Global Shield, alongside data-vendor practices. Meanwhile, several states, including Victoria, have prohibited data-centre builds in residential areas, and the Lane Cove community in NSW halted a proposed site near a school. In a related development, AI company Firmus disclosed a breakup with partner CDC over capacity-building strategies and is set to list on the ASX later in October, with a valuation around $44 billion.