A Victorian cabinet minister has accused a major Australian datacentre operator of using artificial intelligence in correspondence urging her to lobby for approval of a large-scale expansion project. Internal emails show the company’s CEO requested the minister intervene with a colleague to secure backing for what officials describe as a "hyperscale AI factory," raising questions about transparency and potential conflicts. The exchange also highlights growing public scrutiny over datacentre developments ahead of an upcoming state election, with officials expressing heightened sensitivity to community concerns. The allegations of AI-generated errors in the correspondence add another layer to the controversy surrounding the proposal.
Exclusive: Correspondence requests state MP Melissa Horne to lobby on NextDC’s behalf – but contains alleged AI-created errorsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian jobs minister has accused one of Australia’s largest datacentre companies of using artificial intelligence while requesting she lobby her colleague to approve a massive expansion of its “hyperscale AI factory”.Correspondence between Victorian cabinet minister Melissa Horne and the chief executive of ASX-listed company NextDC, Craig Scroggie, reveals increasing sensitivity to community concerns about datacentres before the state election. Continue reading...
