Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed a massive $20 billion commitment from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia, describing it as “a huge vote of confidence in the Australian economy” and a move that will “set us up for the future”.
Speaking from AWS headquarters in Seattle, Albanese said on social media platform X: “We’re taking advantage of the AI revolution – the Australian way. Amazon Web Services’ $20 billion investment in data centres in Australia will set us up for the future, boosting our economy and productivity.”
“This is a huge vote of confidence in the Australian economy. Australia is already a leader in technology, and we’re keeping our eyes on the future while putting Aussie jobs front and centre.”
In a follow-up post, the Prime Minister added, “When Australian ideas meet global opportunity, everyone benefits. Whether it’s quantum, AI, defence, health, software or space – our business leaders and experts are solving real-world problems and creating new opportunities.”
“We’re proud to back that work. Supporting innovation the Australian way: by backing our people, rewarding hard work, and creating jobs at home.”
AWS Chief Executive Matt Garman joined Albanese for the announcement, confirming that the company’s investment in Australia would rise from the previously committed $13 billion to $20 billion by 2029. The spending will support increased demand for AI, cloud computing, and data storage from major Australian clients such as the big four banks, Telstra, Optus, Atlassian and Canva.
“We think that AI has really the ability to change every industry,” Garman said. “And we look at a couple of our customers. First, we look at a customer like CommBank. CommBank is launching an AI factory powered by AWS to completely change how they do innovation.”
“They expect that AI will allow them to drive innovation up to four times faster than they do today… We can look at the Australian national swimming team, we used AI to help their swimmers improve, and actually led to improvements in their performance in the pool, helping them win seven gold medals in the Paris Olympics.”
“So AI is changing everything that we see, from sports to industry to the economy.”
The new investment will also drive AWS’s sustainability initiatives in Australia. The company plans to add two new solar farms in Victoria and one in Queensland, bringing its total to 11 renewable energy projects nationally. AWS is already the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and reached its global target of 100 per cent renewable energy in 2023—seven years ahead of schedule.
Asked whether nuclear energy was part of the company’s strategy in Australia, Garman responded, “Here in the United States, we see nuclear as part of that portfolio. Our investments in Australia are wind and solar. There’s no question that we will continue to require more power going forward, and it’s an important thing that we spend a lot of time on.”
Albanese said the AWS announcement aligned with his government’s economic agenda to boost productivity, resilience and growth: “My government’s agenda for this term is very much about productivity.
“It was the centrepiece of a speech that I gave just this week in Canberra, and something where I’ll be bringing together private sector interests as well as other groups who have an interest in how does the Australian economy grow in the future?”
The Prime Minister will now travel to Kananaskis, Canada, for the G7 Summit. While not a member of the G7, Australia has been invited as a partner country. Albanese will participate in high-level discussions on energy security, critical minerals, technology, infrastructure, and supply chain resilience, and is expected to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders to advance Australia’s strategic and economic interests.
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