By Chris Johnson
Publication Date: 2026-06-13 18:45:00
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock says multinational companies building AI data centers in Australia must be properly taxed. Photo: Region.
Australia must not allow giant multinational companies to exploit Australia with AI and data centers as some have done with natural resources, says independent ACT Senator David Pocock.
The federal government must tax data center developers appropriately and use the money for the benefit of all Australians.
In an opinion piece for The GuardianSenator Pocock has warned that tax regimes for AI projects will follow the same path as those for gas exports.
He said gas exports had put self-interest above the national interest for decades and that Australia could not repeat the scenario with the artificial intelligence boom.
“When multinational technology companies use Australian land, Australian energy, Australian water and Australian labor to build the infrastructure that powers AI…
