Dear Secretary,

RE: Inquiry into AI Data Centres in Tasmania

On Wednesday, 5 August 2026 the House of Assembly Government Administration Committee A commenced an inquiry titled Inquiry into AI Data Centres in Tasmania. Submissions to the Committee were open between 18 August and the 21 September 2026.

The Standing Committee on Government Administration A resolved the Terms of Reference to inquire into and report upon the construction and operation of AI data centres in Tasmania, including recommending future legislation and regulations necessary to:

1. Protect public resources and the environment;
2. Ensure Tasmania’s Resource Management and Planning System adequately recognises and
addresses the specific impacts of the development and construction of AI and data facilities;
3. Provide Parliamentary oversight and accountability for new facility construction and resource allocation;
4. Ensure transparent public disclosure of resource consumption;
5. Provide the Tasmanian community with adequate opportunities for consultation;
6. Ensures the Tasmanian community receive tangible benefits from all AI and data facilities
constructed in the state; and
7. Any other matter incidental.

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania Inc. (PMAT) was established with the principal purpose of educating and communicating information on land use planning in Lutruwita/Tasmania. Land use planning plays a vital role in protecting and enhancing Tasmania’s natural environment and supporting ecologically sustainable development. PMAT believes our planning system must also provide opportunities for informed community input in planning matters and decisions, including provision of appeal rights.

Consistent with the above Terms of References, PMAT is calling for four key actions regarding AI data centre development in Tasmania:

1. Immediately implement a moratorium in Tasmania on AI data centre development until safe regulations are in place across Tasmania;
   2. Immediately initiate an Interim State Planning Provision (SPP) amendment to recognise and address the specific impacts of the development and construction of AI and data
   facilities in Tasmania while ensuring planning appeal rights;
   3. Immediately expand the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997 to include water
   usage; and
   4. Immediately create a Tasmanian State Policy on Energy.

These actions are attached in more detail below.

As highlighted by the Environmental Defenders Office here Tasmania has an opportunity to get data centre development right: They’re the defining development of the decade and the decisions made today could inform environmental outcomes for a generation or more.

We would welcome the opportunity to appear as a witness before the committee to share directly
our submission and to clarify any issues raised in our written submission.

We are happy for our submission to be made public.

Yours sincerely,
Sophie Underwood

State Director – PMAT (Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania)
Mobile 0407501999
Email sophie_underwood@hotmail.com
www.planningmatterstas.org.au