Voters favour local AI laws as data centre worries mount

Resolve poll shows shift towards Australian-specific regulation, with concerns over power and water use

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

A new Resolve poll reveals that 41 per cent of Australians now support Australian-designed laws to regulate artificial intelligence, slightly more than the 40 per cent backing an international approach, as concern grows over the environmental and economic impact of a data centre building boom. The poll of 2200 people found 81 per cent back some form of constraints on AI.

The shift marks a significant change from 2023, when 44 per cent favoured international regulation and 29 per cent backed local laws. Now, only 20 per cent believe AI regulation should continue at its current pace, with 31 per cent saying it should slow and 18 per cent calling for a complete stop.

The poll also highlights a generational divide. While 87 per cent of 18-to-34-year-olds have used AI, only about half of those aged over 55 have. Regular users are more optimistic: 54 per cent say the benefits outweigh the risks, compared with 26 per cent of non-users. However, 60 per cent of non-users see AI as a danger to mankind and society, versus 23 per cent of regular users.

Resolve Political Monitor pollster Jim Reed said most workers believed AI would help them or not hurt their work, but a large share feared for the planet. "Less than one in five think it is a danger to their job or wages," he said. "However, more than a third think it is a real danger to mankind."

Data centre construction is a particularly contested issue. The poll found 32 per cent supported building data centres in Australia, 33 per cent were opposed, and 35 per cent were unsure. Concern is highest over electricity use (50 per cent) and water use (48 per cent).

Modelling due to be released on Monday by the Smart Energy Council warns that adding five gigawatts of data centre demand without new clean power could drive up household bills. Council chief executive David McElrea said: "Data centres must bring their own new, clean electricity to the table. If tech giants are allowed to plug straight into the existing grid ... it is ordinary families and local businesses who will pay the price."

A House-Senate select committee is examining AI's impact on jobs, productivity, copyright and workers' rights, and is due to report by the end of next month.

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Support for international vs local AI regulation, 2023 and now

per cent

Source: Resolve poll

Analysis

Why This Matters

The shift in public opinion towards local regulation could influence federal and state government policy on AI and data centre approvals.
Concerns over power and water use from data centres may lead to stricter environmental requirements for tech companies operating in Australia.
The upcoming select committee report will shape Australia's approach to AI in the workforce and copyright law.

Background

Australia is experiencing a surge in data centre construction driven by global demand for AI and cloud computing. The federal government has encouraged data centres to source their own renewable energy, but some states are considering fossil-fuel options. The Resolve poll captures a moment of rising public scrutiny on both the benefits and costs of AI.

Key Perspectives

Jim Reed (Resolve pollster): said most workers believe AI will help them or not affect their jobs, but more than a third think it is a real danger to mankind. David McElrea (Smart Energy Council): argued that data centres must bring their own clean electricity to avoid burdening households and businesses with higher power bills. Regular AI users: more likely to support data centres and see benefits outweighing risks. Non-users and older Australians: more cautious, with higher concern about societal dangers and local impacts.

What to Watch

The Smart Energy Council's modelling release on Monday, which may quantify cost impacts on different states.
The House-Senate select committee's report, due by the end of next month, which could recommend new AI laws.
Whether federal or state governments respond to the poll with new policy proposals on data centre approvals or AI regulation.

Sources

Voters call for local AI safeguards as data centre concern rises · The Sydney Morning Herald
Voters call for local AI safeguards as data centre concern rises · WAtoday
Voters call for local AI safeguards as data centre concern rises · Brisbane Times

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedVoters favour Australian-specific AI laws over an international approach.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “41 per cent now back Australian-led laws compared with 40 per cent for an international approach.”
SupportedConcern about data centres is rising.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “exclusive polling shows while also showing rising concern that a multibillion-dollar data centre building boom will hurt local communities and the environment.”
SupportedThe poll found 41 per cent backed Australian-designed laws and 40 per cent an international approach.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “41 per cent now back Australian-led laws compared with 40 per cent for an international approach.”
SupportedThe poll found 81 per cent backed some form of constraints on AI.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Overall regulation support has now lifted to 81 per cent.”
SupportedCompared with 2023, support shifted from 44 per cent for international regulation and 29 per cent for Australian-designed laws to 41 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “In 2023, an overwhelming 72 per cent backed constraints on the technology, with 44 per cent supporting international regulation compared with 29 per cent who wanted Australian-designed laws. Overall regulation support has now lifted to 81 per cent. But there has been a change in views on who should regulate: 41 per cent now back Australian-led laws compared with 40 per cent for an international approach.”
Partly supportedWhile 87 per cent of 18-to-34-year-olds have used AI, about half of those over 55 have.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Younger Australians, aged between 18 and 34, were the most likely to use AI, at 87 per cent. But even among those aged at least 55, almost half had used the technology.”
Partly supportedReed said most workers believed AI would help them or not hurt their work, while a large share feared for the planet.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Resolve Political Monitor pollster Jim Reed said it appeared most workers believed AI would help them or not unduly affect their work, but at the same time a large share of people feared for the fate of the planet from the technology.”
SupportedReed said, “Less than one in five think it is a danger to their job or wages” and “more than a third think it is a real danger to mankind.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Less than one in five think it is a danger to their job or wages,” Reed said. “However, more than a third think it is a real danger to mankind.”
SupportedThe poll found 32 per cent supported building data centres in Australia, 33 per cent opposed it and 35 per cent were unsure.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Resolve found while 32 per cent supported data centres in Australia, 33 per cent were opposed and 35 per cent were unsure.”
SupportedThe poll found 50 per cent were concerned about data centres’ electricity use and 48 per cent about their water use.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The single largest concern about data centres, shared by 50 per cent of respondents, was their use of power, with 48 per cent expressing concern about their water use.”
Partly supportedModelling due Monday says adding five gigawatts of data-centre demand without new clean power could drive up household bills.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The modelling found that adding an extra five gigawatts of demand for power from data centres without additional clean power and storage would “cannibalise” the existing grid and force up household and consumer prices.”
Partly supportedMcElrea said: “If tech giants are allowed to plug straight into the existing grid ... it is ordinary families and local businesses who will pay the price.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““If tech giants are allowed to plug straight into the existing grid without building dedicated new renewable generation and firming storage, it is ordinary families and local businesses who will pay the price through sky-high power bills.””

Correction

25 October 2026An earlier version of this story said a majority of Australians supported Australian-designed AI laws. The poll found 41 per cent supported Australian-led laws and 40 per cent supported an international approach; 81 per cent supported regulation overall.