Anthropic Signs Deal for First Australian Data Centre in Queensland

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has signed an agreement to establish its first Australian data centre in Queensland.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the deal in state parliament on Wednesday. He said Anthropic, the company behind the Claude large-language model, will set up at the Western Downs Digital Park.

The new digital park is expected to open next year. According to Crisafulli, the project will create jobs and support electricity demand in regional Queensland.

Anthropic Expands Data Centre Network

“Earlier today Anthropic signed an historic agreement for their first Australian data centre,” Crisafulli told parliament.

Anthropic could not immediately be reached for comment.

The agreement comes as Australia faces growing debate over the impact of large AI data centres. Concerns include their use of electricity and water, as well as their effect on nearby communities.

Western Downs Digital Park

Planning documents for the Western Downs Digital Park show four proposed data-centre buildings.

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Each building will provide about 36,000 square metres of floor space. The full project could therefore provide about 144,000 square metres of data-centre capacity.

Developers Zerra DC say the project will rely mainly on air-cooled technology. As a result, the company says the centre will not compete with local communities for water.

The planning documents also describe Western Downs as a major energy-producing region. The area currently produces more energy than it consumes, according to the documents.

Australia Considers Data Centre Rules

The Anthropic agreement comes as the federal government considers new rules for data centres.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month that his government would seek national minimum standards for water and energy use.

The proposed rules would also aim to reduce impacts on communities. They could encourage data centres to locate away from homes, schools, prime farmland and potential housing sites.

Meanwhile, Crisafulli said the Anthropic project would add energy to the grid while respecting local community interests.

Copyright Debate Continues

Anthropic has also faced scrutiny over its approach to copyright in Australia.

The company has lobbied Australian officials to change copyright laws related to AI training. Media companies, musicians and other creators have pushed back against such proposals.

The Queensland agreement now marks another step in Anthropic’s expansion of its infrastructure in Australia.