Anthropic lands deal in $31bn datacentre in western Queensland, David Crisafulli says

THE NEWS

What happened

Anthropic has secured a landmark deal to lease land for its first Australian datacenter in Western Queensland, valued at approximately $31.9 billion. The project, led by developer Zerra DC near Dalby, aims to host inference operations rather than model training. State Premier David Crisafulli highlighted the investment as a major confidence booster for the region, promising job creation and grid energy support. However, the project faces local council approval processes and sits within a contentious national debate over whether AI facilities should use coal power versus renewable sources.

CONTEXT

Why it matters

Breaking: Anthropic has finalized a massive $31.9 billion lease deal for its inaugural Australian datacenter in Western Queensland. Premier David Crisafulli hailed the move as a major win for jobs and energy security. The facility, built by Zerra DC near Dalby, will handle AI inference tasks. Notably, Queensland has opted to use coal generators for power rather than renewables, sparking national debate. Construction begins in stages, with the first phase launching next year.

AT A GLANCE

Key facts

• Anthropic will lease land for its first Australian datacenter in Western Queensland.
• The project is valued at approximately $31.9 billion and will be the largest of its kind in Australia.
• Construction will be led by Singapore-based Zerra DC near Dalby, north-west of Toowoomba.
• The facility will focus on 'inference' (answering questions) rather than model training.
• Queensland has secured a carve-out allowing the use of coal generators for power instead of mandatory renewables.
• The project is planned in four stages, with the first stage expected to open next year.
• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for a slowdown in AI development amid safety concerns.