Albanese pushes US‑China AI pact as Australia grapples with power‑hungry data hubs

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged the United States and China to negotiate an artificial‑intelligence agreement modelled on the nuclear non‑proliferation treaty. He said the lack of a clear framework leaves Australia vulnerable to AI risks. Recent reports warn that data centres could consume about 13% of the nation’s total electricity, raising concerns about energy security. A parliamentary spy‑agency briefing has placed the Labor government in a difficult spot, highlighting gaps in current AI oversight. Proposed legislation would require firms under the Australian Financial and Reporting AI (AFRAI) regime to report any ‘rogue’ AI incidents to regulators. Critics argue the measures are too little, too late, while industry groups point to the high cost of compliance. Albanese’s call follows growing international pressure for rules on AI development, and he emphasized that a multilateral deal could set safety standards and limit hostile use. The government has yet to announce a timeline for the reporting rules, and analysts say the power‑draw from data centres could force a rethink of national energy policy. Meanwhile, consumer groups demand transparency on how AI systems are trained and deployed across Australian businesses.