Greens Push for Tax Reform and Data-Centre Transparency

Senator David Shoebridge, the Greens’ new leader, announced a proposal to raise the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $26,000, delivering a cut of up to $1,092 a year—or $21 a week—to every personal-income taxpayer. The same $21 weekly increase would be added to all income-support payments, including JobSeeker, student, carer and age-pension benefits. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates the package would cost $22 billion each year. Shoebridge said the Greens would “replace Labor” by funding the plan through a 25 percent gas-export tax (adapted from the Australia Institute) and a progressive royalties regime for mining. The Australia Institute has suggested a gas tax could raise $17 billion annually, while Greens-cited figures from Prosper Australia claim the combined taxes could generate $28 billion.

ABC News AustraliaLabor and Greens accuse government of secrecy over AI data centres

The gas-export tax and mining-royalties proposals have not been fully costed by the PBO. Shoebridge plans to use the Australia Institute’s estimate of $17 billion from the gas tax and a “ball-park” calculation of state-government royalty gains based on Queensland’s rates. A specific “Commonwealth tax” has not been defined, and details on how the royalties would interact with state levies remain pending.

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In Tasmania, Greens MP Tabatha Badger and Labor opposition leader Josh Willie pressed Premier Jeremy Rockliff for full disclosure of AI data-centre projects, including the identity of proponents and the amount to be paid into the government’s community-benefit fund. Badger highlighted proposals near Nook and Bothwell, noting that Hydro Tasmania had discussed a power-deal with an unnamed proponent.

Labor and Greens accuse government of secrecy over AI data centres

Premier Rockliff said data-centre proponents “will be contributing” to the community fund and that the Office of the Coordinator-General is reviewing submissions. He added that firms such as Firmus are expected to match their electricity load with new renewable generation and publicly report water and power use each quarter. Shoebridge’s speech extract emphasized that the tax-cut plan would “turn the tide on inequality” and that the Greens intend to fund it by “collecting rivers of gold” from gas and mining companies.

Labor and Greens accuse government of secrecy over AI data centres

> “A 300 megawatt industrial plant belongs on industrial land, with the roads and infrastructure built for it, not in the paddocks of the Kentish district.” — Sarah Hanson, Nation State President

Labor and Greens accuse government of secrecy over AI data centres