Australian Government Welcomes Major AI Investment
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed a new $20 billion investment by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Australian data centre infrastructure. The deal, announced during Albanese’s visit to Seattle, aims to enhance the country’s AI capabilities, national resilience, and job creation.
The investment will expand Australia’s network of data centres, currently operating three zones across Melbourne and Sydney. AWS chief executive Matt Garman emphasized that this expansion will be a “huge gateway” to new business and job creation, estimating that technology will drive over $600 billion in GDP growth by 2030.
The Australian government views this investment as crucial for seizing opportunities presented by AI while mitigating its risks. Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres described the investment as “very significant” and a “pointer to the future” for Australia. The investment builds on AWS’s previous $9.1 billion injection into Australia since 2012, making it the largest by any tech firm in the country.
As part of the investment, AWS is also expanding its renewable energy investments, announcing three new large solar farms in Victoria and Queensland. This brings the total number of renewable projects in Australia to eleven.
The investment aligns with the Australian government’s focus on productivity and economic growth. Prime Minister Albanese highlighted the importance of being at the forefront of emerging technologies to shape Australia’s future. The investment is expected to boost productivity, enhance national resilience, and drive job creation across various sectors.
Several Australian companies, including Canva, CommBank, and Atlassian, have already harnessed AI through AWS. The government plans to continue advocating for free and fair trade, particularly with the US, as Albanese prepares for his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump at the G7 summit.
