Water policy
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:57): My question is to the Minister for Water. Minister, the government recently committed $5.5 million to develop a sustainable data centre action plan which ‘will help determine the most sustainable locations’ for future facilities. Minister, will this plan include mandatory requirements regarding water efficiency and sources?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (13:58): I thank the member for the question. This was a question that basically, in some ways, was asked by Dr Mansfield where I talked about what the process currently is in respect to data centres and making applications and what needs to occur and what happens to large industrial organisations, industrial partners et cetera. In terms of the work that is being done, as I mentioned in the response to Dr Mansfield, DEECA and VicWater are working on a range of things, not just in terms of what is happening but also projected forecasts, so that water corporations can be more readily able to access information and to make the required responses. This is work that, as I said in my response to Dr Mansfield, is very active. It is very front of mind. We will have more to say about this in the future.
Aiv Puglielli: On a point of order, President, just to assist the minister, the question was specifically about the sustainable data centre action plan, which has not been mentioned yet in the response, just on relevance.
The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister was relevant, but I will get the minister to return to the question.
Gayle TIERNEY: This is a plan that is obviously important. Of course all sorts of variables need to be taken into account when it comes to data centres but not just data centres – heavy users of resources that are wanting to participate in the Victorian economy.
We will continue to look at all of the issues that come into play when businesses want to come into this state to participate in a whole range of different activities. A lot of work is obviously going on in Minister Pearson’s area. Obviously in terms of water we have got the actual water component, but also of course Minister D’Ambrosio has got a significant interest as well as the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Planning. So there are a whole lot of moving parts in this place, and I can assure you that we want the best possible outcomes for Victoria, Victorians and of course the economy.
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:01): Minister, with respect to your portfolio, the use of water in data centres being the topic, can you guarantee for Victorians that the use of water in these data centres will not push up water prices for people in the state?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (14:01): Again, in terms of my response to Dr Mansfield, what I have said is that there is a separate contribution fee that will apply to data centres and heavy industrial users. That is determined by the Essential Services Commission, and it will be determined by a number of factors. We look forward to having further discussions with the community and industry as these new elements of data information are on our doorstep.