{
  "id": 7727042,
  "title": "Anthropic to build $31bn datacentre in western Queensland, David Crisafulli says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/anthropic-to-build-31bn-datacentre-in-western-queensland-david-7727042",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T05:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/16/anthropic-lands-31bn-datacentre-deal-in-western-queensland"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Queensland government has signed a deal with AI company Anthropic to build a $31.9 billion datacentre in the Western Downs region, according to Premier David Crisafulli. The proposed Western Downs digital park will be constructed by Singapore-based Zerra DC near Dalby, north-west of Toowoomba, and will be connected to the Braemar power station. Crisafulli stated that he had met with Anthropic during a trade mission and highlighted the state's energy security and streamlined approval process as key factors in securing the investment. The premier emphasized that the deal would bring more jobs to the state and increase energy supply to the grid. Despite the rejection of a national push for AI centers to use renewable energy, Queensland has secured a carve-out, allowing the use of coal generators to power the datacentre. Crisafulli praised Albanese's decision to allow Queensland to set its own path for power supply, ensuring the project would add energy generation and lower power prices for Queenslanders while protecting local water supplies and respecting community concerns. The Albanese government is currently considering a proposal that would grant AI companies access to Australian creatives' works by default, a move that independent Senator David Pocock criticized as potentially detrimental to artists. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, recently called for a slowdown in AI development due to growing concerns about artificial intelligence.",
  "summary": "Premier describes deal as ‘major win’ that will deliver more jobs for the state and put more energy into its grid Anthropic, the AI giant behind the large language model Claude, has done a deal to lease the site of its first Australian datacentre in western Queensland. The state premier, David Crisafulli, announced the decision in parliament on Wednesday. Continue reading...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "Anthropic lands deal in $31bn datacentre in western Queensland",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/anthropic-lands-deal-in-31bn-datacentre-in-western-queensland",
        "published": "2026-09-16T05:20:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}