Data centres setting up in Australia must be required to contribute to Australian energy and skills. Currently, many of our members are working hard on the construction phase, but this is only going to be sustainable if the centres are paying their way. Otherwise, community backlash will kill what is and should remain a strong source of employment in our trades.
The ETU, alongside various environmental organisations and peak bodies, has delivered a plan about responsible data centre regulation to Industry Minister Tim Ayres and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andew Charlton.
The plan outlines how data centres need to invest in renewable energy to power their operations, instead of pushing up the price of wholesale power, use water responsibility, and train local apprentices rather than siphoning skills away from national priorities like housing.
The plan outlines 8 principles to ensure responsible data centre operation;
1. Be powered by 100% additional renewable energy
2. Strengthen grid stability
3. Be appropriately sited to minimise impacts on nature and land use
4. Minimise embodied emissions and maximise efficiency and circularity
5. Use water resources responsibly
6. Operate with transparency
7. Commit to earning and delivering ongoing social license
8. Support the training and upskilling of the workforce
“Australia needs tens of thousands more electrical workers to wire our nation into the 21st century – including by building data centres.
Data centres must open doors for young and re-skilling Australians to train for skilled, rewarding electrical careers, not just siphon existing skills away from important national priorities like housing and energy transition.
Data centres that invest in Australian energy and skills are welcome here – ones that drive up power prices, take drinking water and lock young people out of jobs are not.”
Michael Wright, ETU National Secretary.
Data centres are part of the future of energy, and we need to ensure that they are opening doors for young Australians to train and take on apprenticeships, instead of siphoning away existing trained workers from priorities like housing.
And the Government is already responding, having released its Data Centre Principles. They were released on March 23rd by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Tim Ayers, and Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Dr Andrew Charlton.
They set clear and firm expectations that data centre operators should:
· Prioritise Australia’s national interest
· Support energy transition with additional renewable energy generation and storage
· Use water sustainable and efficiently
· Invest in Australian skills with apprenticeships and training
· Contribute to national research, innovation and capability
The ETU is always fighting to ensure ETU members are respected for their qualifications and skills and have the best jobs with the best wages and conditions, reflective of their skills; and if data centres want to set up in Australia, they’ll need to ensure they do it the right way – not just taking from our country, our communities, and our workforce– but working with the ETU to train and employ the sparkies of the future.