PM targets copyright theft and data centres in world-first AI response

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he will protect creators from artificial intelligence theft and crack down on data centre consumption as he unveiled a world-first framework to respond to the technology.

In a speech on Wednesday, he said the creation of federal Office of AI will help develop the design of a set of new standards to address issues associated with the technology.

“Australia will be the first country in the world to bring these issues into a single national framework, and getting this right will enhance our appeal to international investors by delivering greater clarity and speed for approvals, and a streamlined process for verifying compliance,” he said.

Albanese vowed that the standards will include the “strongest possible protection” for artists, writers, musicians and journalists to maintain ownership and control of their work.

“Anything less is theft,” he said.

“No country has got this right yet. Nowhere do artists or right holders have sufficient control of their work when it comes to AI training.”

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The standards will also set clear rules around data centres, including where they are built and the resources they consume, to keep power prices down and protect the environment as Australia emerges as the second most attractive destination for investment.

“Australia is the sunniest continent on Earth, also the driest, which is why our rules will require data centres to minimise their water use to maximise their energy efficiency and pay for any additional water infrastructure that is required,” Albanese said.

This builds on the memorandums of understanding – which are not legally binding – the government signed with both Microsoft and Anthropic earlier this year to ensure the tech giants responsibly develop AI in Australia.

The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s stance on AI is to balance the benefits against the harms, including building sovereign capability, attracting investment, and creating jobs rather than replacing them.

“No government can turn back the clock or press pause on all of this, nor would we want to,” he said of the technology.

“That would only mean cutting ourselves off from the opportunities which are there to be seized and leaving ourselves open to the risks created elsewhere.”

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The two-pronged stance was recommended by the Productivity Commission in its report on AI late last year.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor accused Albanese of responding to the issue of AI with more bureaucracy but failed to detail how his national approach would differ.

“What he’s announced is an office in an office inside his own office,” he told reporters ahead of the speech.

“The trouble with this prime minister and this government is the answer to every problem is always more bureaucracy.”