![\"Penry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786924694_411_Penry_Buckley.png\")
Penry Buckley<\/p>\nNSW framework commits to 75 day assessments for datacentres that meet \u2018world-class\u2019 standardsPenry Buckley<\/p>\n
The NSW has committed to assessing new datacentre proposals within 75 days if they meet \u201cworld-class\u201d energy, water and environmental standards, under a framework announced today.<\/p>\n
The Minns government\u2019s new datacentre guidelines<\/a> follow the prime minister\u2019s announcement<\/a> last month of a national office of AI and regulatory framework for datacentres, amid growing community concern about land, water and power use by the rapidly expanding industry.<\/p>\n The Minns government has credited investment in datacentres, which has increased 75% per year on average over the last three years, as the reason NSW has avoided recession.<\/p>\n Under the NSW guidelines, the planning department will commit to assessing proposals within 75 days if datacentre builders comply with six principles, including applying \u201cworld-class environmental and efficiency standards\u201d, imposing no net cost to consumers and communities and funding additional water and energy supply.<\/p>\n Under the guidelines, they must \u201cdemonstrate a commitment to training and skills to support jobs\u201d. The government says developments will still need to meet planning, environmental and community consultation standards.<\/p>\n The state government says it will introduce regulation to make sure datacentres pay for electricity network upgrades without the cost being passed on to households and small businesses. I<\/p>\n t has not made the same commitment on the cost of providing water, but will commission the independent pricing regulator, Ipart, to review \u201chow water pricing can reflect the full costs associated with servicing datacentres\u201d, including management of the impacts of drought.<\/p>\n The framework has already been endorsed by datacentre companies CDC, AirTrunk, and Data Centres Australia. The NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis world-class framework provides the certainty that both investors and \u2013 importantly \u2013 the community need. NSW is a premium destination, so we are setting a high bar.<\/p>\n The NSW government will move its own office of AI, established in 2025, directly into the cabinet office.<\/p>\n It comes after the NSW opposition said it would appoint a dedicated minister for AI if elected next year, alongside a guarantee that frontline workers\u2019 jobs would not be replaced by artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n Following the Albanese government\u2019s announcement of a national framework, the NSW Greens joined their federal counterparts in calling for a moratorium on new datacentres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.53 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Nab records rise in \u2018watch loans\u2019 indicating consumer stress<\/p>\n National Australia Bank has recorded an increase in the number of struggling customers amid relentless pressure on Australian households.<\/p>\n The bank said today that levels of \u201cwatch loans\u201d were moving higher, reflecting current and potential customer stress.<\/p>\n Watch loans are a leading indicator of a customer\u2019s financial problems, whereby a lender has identified that a borrower may struggle to meet future commitments.<\/p>\n Nab said the Middle East conflict, higher interest rates and recent budget tax changes are creating challenges and uncertainties for customers.<\/p>\n The big bank recorded a $1.83bn quarterly cash profit, according to results published this morning, 2% higher than the average of the prior two quarters.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.58 EDT<\/p>\n Chalmers \u2018simply making things up\u2019: Hume<\/p>\n The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume, has responded to Jim Chalmers\u2019 claim that the Coalition<\/a> would end the super guarantee, accusing him of making stuff up.<\/p>\n Before heading out to Googong with Angus Taylor for a press conference, Hume rejected Chalmers\u2019 comments and told reporters at Parliament:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think the treasurer has a leaf out of the Mad Men Don Draper book: if you don\u2019t like what they\u2019re saying about you, change the conversation.<\/p>\n The super guarantee is here to stay and the treasurer is simply making things up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.51 EDT<\/p>\n Taylor won\u2019t confirm if backpackers will be carved out of Coalition<\/a> migration targets<\/p>\n Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan might be in for a slightly awkward conversation over which visa classes are going to see cuts to get migration numbers down.<\/p>\n The Coalition has said it will tie migration numbers to housing builds, but the Nats have warned that working holiday visas (ie backpackers) shouldn\u2019t be touched because they\u2019re vital farm workers.<\/p>\n Taylor, who\u2019s doing a press conference in Googong, a town just outside Canberra in NSW, says there will be more to say later about which visas get cut:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ll have more to say as we get closer to the election on the composition of visas. What I will say, though, is we will cap migration numbers based on housing supply. Sadly, we\u2019re seeing housing supply [in] freefall \u2026<\/p>\n We\u2019ll look at different visa classes and make appropriate decisions. What we don\u2019t want to do, and to Matt\u2019s point, is we don\u2019t want to undermine the skilled labour that our agricultural sectors need.<\/p>\n Angus Taylor last week. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.36 EDT<\/p>\n Coalition, One Nation<\/a> would end super \u2018as we know it\u2019 claims Chalmers<\/p>\n Jim Chalmers, who\u2019s become a bit of a fan of the ol\u2019 Parliament House doors-stop (for the unintiated, it\u2019s basically where journos will hang out at the entrances of the Senate and house to ask incoming pollies what their thoughts are on the news of the day).<\/p>\n Chalmers has recently taken it upon himself to \u2013 when convenient \u2013 enter through the House of Representatives doors rather than the ministerial entrance, so he can give the TV stations a couple of quotes.<\/p>\n This morning he\u2019s taken aim at Jane Hume, the Liberals and One Nation, and claims they\u2019re a threat to super. He accuses Hume of throwing the future of compulsory super in doubt during her earlier interview on News24 (see here<\/a>):<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Liberals via Jane Hume put the future of compulsory super [in] doubt \u2026 The Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation would end compulsory superannuation as we know it.<\/p>\n Their policy and their ideology on super would absolutely decimate the economic security and retirement incomes of millions of Australian workers \u2026 Last week, Andrew Bragg at the press club compared super for younger workers as akin to super for cats and dogs.<\/p>\n What Hume said this morning was:<\/p>\n double quotation markI do think that superannuation is highly valued by Australians, it\u2019s not something that you need in your working life, it\u2019s something you need in your retired life \u2026 The best indicator of economic security in your retirement is owning a home and that should be a priority.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.26 EDT<\/p>\n Former public service commissioner announced as Julie Bishop\u2019s replacement at ANU<\/p>\n Gordon de Brouwer has been appointed chancellor of the beleaguered Australian National University, to replace Julie Bishop after months of turbulence.<\/p>\n De Brouwer is a bit of a Canberra institution, most recently having served as the Australian Public Service Commissioner and who has held senior roles in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, treasury and the Reserve Bank.<\/p>\n The decision was made independently of the university\u2019s council after a string of controversies around ANU\u2019s governance. The ANU had voluntarily requested an undertaking from the university quality and safety body, TEQSA, to help make the appointment.<\/p>\n In a statement, De Brouwer said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI am committed to helping ANU build confidence in its future, with strong governance, a compelling shared strategy and a culture in which our people can do their best work.<\/p>\n The finance minister, and senator for the ACT, Katy Gallagher, has also congratulated the new chancellor who will begin this week:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe ANU is a great national institution and a vital part of Canberra, and I look forward to working with Dr de Brouwer as he leads the University into its next chapter.<\/p>\n Gordon de Brouwer in 2024. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.08 EDT<\/p>\n Hume says housing the \u2018best indicator of economic security\u2019 in retirement over super<\/p>\n The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume says the Coalition will reconsider whether Australians should be able to access more of their superannuation balance early after Pauline Hanson<\/a> called on Sunday for super rules to be \u201clightened up a bit\u201d and allow workers to their money in times of crisis.<\/p>\n Hume told News24 this morning its a policy the Coalition<\/a> took to the last two elections but that it hasn\u2019t come back to shadow cabinet this time around. Coalition policy included allowing first home buyers to use up to $50,000 or 40% of their super balance to buy.<\/p>\n Hume points out that owning a home is the most \u201cbest indicator of economic security\u201d in retirement.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s something that we will obviously consider as part of our normal processes, that\u2019s not a policy that\u2019s come to our shadow cabinet yet, but of course, it\u2019s something that we would consider.<\/p>\n I do think that superannuation is highly valued by Australians, it\u2019s not something that you need in your working life, it\u2019s something you need in your retired life.<\/p>\n But as I said, the best indicator of economic security in your retirement is owning a home and that should be a priority.<\/p>\n Jane Hume in June. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.59 EDT<\/p>\n The system is \u2018unfair\u2019: state premiers fight over GST deal<\/p>\n RN Breakfast has decided to making itself something of a boxing ring for the GST debate, with not one but three state treasurers on its program today fighting over the deal that the productivity commission has called a \u201ccostly mistake\u201d.<\/p>\n Tom Koutsantonis, the SA treasurer is obviously feeling aggrieved by the deal (like all treasurers besides the Western Australian treasurer) and says that before the mining boom, the only reason Perth was able to grow was because of \u201cthose bigger states subsidising Western Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n double quotation markIf you put the Productivity Commission report into any pub across Australia, people read it from cover to cover, [they] all say the system currently is unfair. We\u2019re paying more for it than we were told it would cost. We\u2019re using scarce income tax dollars to prop up a state that doesn\u2019t need it.<\/p>\n Following him is WA\u2019s treasurer, Rita Safioti, who says that despite what the PC says, the deal\u2019s actually good and fine for everyone and says her state government is \u201cvery confident in our current deal\u201d.<\/p>\n By that she means that it\u2019s so politically sensitive in the west that Anthony Albanese won\u2019t be inclined to overhaul it.<\/p>\n She says it\u2019s an economic rather than a political argument.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is a deal that doesn\u2019t make any other state worse off, makes sure that there\u2019s the right incentives to deliver productivity and economic growth. And also helps the federal budget bottom line by making sure that we can continue to deliver the royalties and the company tax in particular.<\/p>\n WA has a significant resources sector and we need the ability to be able to develop those resources because they lead to national economic growth but also are the national bottom line.<\/p>\n Finally, the NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, who\u2019s also been very vocal in his criticism of the agreement, says it\u2019s not fair that people in the west automatically get better entitlements and services because of the deal than those in the east.<\/p>\n He also takes issue with Safioti\u2019s argument that only WA should be incentivised to develop its resources sector.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have a pretty significant resource state here in New South Wales too, as does Queensland, as does South Australia. And if the logic that WA is arguing for is to apply across the board, then every other state that\u2019s either developing those resources or looking to are entitled to the same benefit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.39 EDT<\/p>\n NSW framework commits to 75 day assessments for datacentres that meet \u2018world-class\u2019 standards The NSW has committed to assessing new datacentre proposals within 75 days if they meet \u201cworld-class\u201d energy, water and environmental standards, under a framework announced today.<\/p>\n The Minns government\u2019s new datacentre guidelines<\/a> follow the prime minister\u2019s announcement<\/a> last month of a national office of AI and regulatory framework for datacentres, amid growing community concern about land, water and power use by the rapidly expanding industry.<\/p>\n The Minns government has credited investment in datacentres, which has increased 75% per year on average over the last three years, as the reason NSW has avoided recession.<\/p>\n A datacenter construction site in Artarmon, Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n Under the NSW guidelines, the planning department will commit to assessing proposals within 75 days if datacentre builders comply with six principles, including applying \u201cworld-class environmental and efficiency standards\u201d, imposing no net cost to consumers and communities and funding additional water and energy supply.<\/p>\n Under the guidelines, they must \u201cdemonstrate a commitment to training and skills to support jobs\u201d. The government says developments will still need to meet planning, environmental and community consultation standards.<\/p>\n The state government says it will introduce regulation to make sure datacentres pay for electricity network upgrades without the cost being passed on to households and small businesses. I<\/p>\n t has not made the same commitment on the cost of providing water, but will commission the independent pricing regulator, Ipart, to review \u201chow water pricing can reflect the full costs associated with servicing datacentres\u201d, including management of the impacts of drought.<\/p>\n The framework has already been endorsed by datacentre companies CDC, AirTrunk, and Data Centres Australia. The NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis world-class framework provides the certainty that both investors and \u2013 importantly \u2013 the community need. NSW is a premium destination, so we are setting a high bar.<\/p>\n The NSW government will move its own office of AI, established in 2025, directly into the cabinet office.<\/p>\n It comes after the NSW opposition said it would appoint a dedicated minister for AI if elected next year, alongside a guarantee that frontline workers\u2019 jobs would not be replaced by artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n Following the Albanese government\u2019s announcement of a national framework, the NSW Greens joined their federal counterparts in calling for a moratorium on new datacentres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.53 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018Pretty obvious\u2019 SA treasurer says there will be a gap in care left from NDIS changes<\/p>\n South Australian treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis says he has real concerns about the government\u2019s proposed changes to the NDIS scheme, which it hopes to pass this week, and worries there will be gaps in care from the reforms.<\/p>\n Koutsantonis tells RN Breakfast he\u2019s worried his state and others won\u2019t be able to provide enough support for individuals who are no longer eligible for the NDIS.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been an uphill battle for the federal government to get the states on board with implementing so-called foundational supports and the thriving kids program.<\/p>\n Koutsantonis says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re doing our very best, but look, I am concerned about the NDIS. I am concerned about a number of people being taken off the system and those foundational supports leaving people looking for services and they\u2019re going to turn to state governments. And they\u2019re going to turn to state governments, and we won\u2019t have the resources we need to look after them.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s pretty obvious there\u2019s going to be a gap in care. The question is how we deal with it. I mean, I think the entire system needs reform, and I think the commonwealth government are right to reform it. But let\u2019s not pretend somehow that this system is now fully funded and ready to pick up the pieces of people coming off the NDIS. It\u2019s just not.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.04 EDT<\/p>\n Mathias Cormann defends the WA GST deal he helped create<\/p>\n Mathias Cormann, the former finance minister who helped design the 2018 GST deal for WA and was a senator for WA says he disagrees with critics that the scheme \u2013 that\u2019s handed billions of dollars to the west \u2013 has been a costly mistake.<\/p>\n On Friday, the productivity commission released an interim review<\/a> of the deal that says tens of billions of dollars have gone to the richest state and that it \u201creshaped a system that needed targeted reform, leaving taxpayers with a large and growing bill\u201d.<\/p>\n Cormann, who now heads the OECD (but speaks in a personal capacity) says the deal addressed a \u201csignificant unfairness\u201d where WA\u2019s share of GST was down to 30 cents in a dollar.<\/p>\n On RN Breakfast Cormann argues that if the reforms had not been in place, WA\u2019s share would have dropped below 10 cents in the dollar when iron ore prices remained much higher for much longer than was anticipated at the time.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt was a very important reform to federal financial relations, addressing a very significant unfairness for the state of Western Australia, and also a real problem when it comes to the incentive arrangements in our federation in relation to state economic development, in particular of the resources and mining sector.<\/p>\n Asked about WA premier Roger Cook\u2019s comments after the productivity commission released its report on Friday, calling other state governments \u201clazy\u201d and accusing them of not pulling their weight, Cormann says he won\u2019t go into political commentary.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nationals argue low gun buyback price doesn\u2019t sit well with the constitution<\/p>\n Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie says the first and only deal so far negotiated between the commonwealth and NSW to buy back guns in the wake of the Bondi terror attack might not work with the constitution.<\/p>\n The scheme will give licence holders a fixed compensation fee based on their type of firearm when they surrender it to NSW police.<\/p>\n McKenzie tells the ABC\u2019s AM program that the deal doesn\u2019t take into account the cost of firearm accessories and falls foul of a provision in the constitution that requires fair compensation:<\/p>\n double quotation markDoes a buyback need to be on just terms? Yes, it does. Does it need to ensure that market value is paid to Australians for their own assets? Of course it does. And under the federal constitution, that\u2019s a requirement.<\/p>\n If that sounds a little familiar to you, it\u2019s the same argument Darryl Kerrigan (or rather his more erudite lawyer) made in the film The Castle: that the commonwealth may acquire property on \u201cjust terms\u201d<\/a>, as set out in section 51(xxxi)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.55 EDT<\/p>\n Debate on NDIS legislation begins in the Senate today<\/p>\n The minister for the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS), Jenny McAllister, says she\u2019s confident there is a deal to be reached with the Coalition<\/a> overhauling the program.<\/p>\n Debate in the Senate will begin today and the government wants the legislation passed this week.<\/p>\n On Friday, the extended Senate inquiry examining the legislation handed down its report<\/a>.<\/p>\n McAllister tells RN Breakfast:<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019m confident that there is an agreement to be reached here, and I say it for this reason. The Coalition has said publicly that they think that reforming this scheme does matter. They\u2019ve said that they\u2019re up for that task.<\/p>\n The minister for the NDIS, Jenny McAllister, in July. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n Asked whether participants who will no longer be eligible to be on the scheme under the changes will be left high and dry with the states and territories dragging their feet on alternative support, McAllister says everyone will still be able to access help.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve been really clear that we won\u2019t leave people without supports and it\u2019s why we\u2019ve initiated a conversation about foundational supports well before any access changes. We don\u2019t expect any changes to access to the scheme to occur until 2028.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t want to leave people without supports and we don\u2019t want to see people fall between two stools.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.43 EDT<\/p>\n Joyce says One Nation<\/a> are \u2018not homophobes\u2019, but won\u2019t be seen at Mardi Gras<\/p>\n One Nation leader Barnaby Joyce says his party are not homophobes, but will absolutely not attend a Mardi Gras event.<\/p>\n Last week Joyce said One Nation was \u201cone of the gayest parties in Australia<\/a>\u201d after comments surfaced from a failed candidate describing same-sex attraction as a mental illness.<\/p>\n Then Pauline Hanson was asked whether she still held her views from 1996 in when she said she didn\u2019t like the event, and yesterday told News24 she still doesn\u2019t like it. She said she has \u201cno problem\u201d with same sex marriage, but that people should keep their sexuality \u201cbehind closed doors\u201d.<\/p>\n Joyce told Sunrise this morning the party is saying that an individual\u2019s sexuality is \u201ctheir business\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markEverybody\u2019s trying to make us as a pack of homophobes, which we\u2019re not. It\u2019s just ridiculous. And we\u2019re not racist, we\u2019re not homophobes, but we always get these tropes thrown at us \u2026<\/p>\n You can absolutely bet I would not go to the Mardi Gras. But that\u2019s my business, and we just want you to live your own life.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.22 EDT<\/p>\n Community groups and migrant advocates urge Labor against rule changes Dozens of non-profit groups, multicultural advocacy organisations and social service agencies have urged the federal government not to proceed with changes to limit work rights for temporary migrants.<\/p>\n The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, is working on new changes to cut overseas migration levels to Australia. It was reported last week the package, which is delayed pending cabinet deliberations, will include new rules removing some rights for temporary migrants applying for protection once their claim has been rejected.<\/p>\n Burke\u2019s planned announcement at the National Press Club was delayed this month.<\/p>\n Nearly 150 different organisations, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Jesuit Social Services, have organised a massive open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese<\/a>, warning against restrictive changes.<\/p>\n It says removing work rights would strip people of their income and their independence, leaving them unable to pay rent, buy food or meet their most basic needs. Instead the letter urges investment in faster processing of applications, help for legal assistance and work rights.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when multiculturalism and migrant communities are facing growing attacks and scapegoating, Australia needs leadership that brings people together, upholds fairness and ensures our policies do not further harm communities already being targeted,\u201d the letter says.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is not the Australia we want to be and it is not the answer to the growing challenges facing our community.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.23 EDT<\/p>\n Welcome Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for week two of this sitting fortnight.<\/p>\n We\u2019re getting to crunch time on Labor\u2019s proposed changes to the NDIS and gambling regulations \u2013 both are still on the negotiation table.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786924695_26_6880.jpg\")
A datacenter construction site in Artarmon, Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786924695_863_Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786924696_258_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786924697_369_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n