Why the Anthropic data centre deal matters for Queensland's jobs, power bills and energy mix

Anthropic has signed an agreement to use part of a $32 billion data centre proposed for Queensland’s Western Downs. The facility, planned near Dalby by Singaporean developer Zerra DC, will be the largest in Australia.

The centre will draw power comparable to about 1.5 million average Australian households. Its lease is subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board, and Anthropic aims to start using the centre in 2027.

Premier David Crisafulli said the deal will deliver jobs, add energy to Queensland’s grid and drive down power prices, and highlighted Queensland’s choice to use a mix of coal, gas and renewables.

The investment is almost five times greater than the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure budget, meaning the project could bring thousands of ongoing jobs and boost the local economy while sparking debate over the state’s reliance on coal and gas versus renewable energy.

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