Industry minister says Australia should not just be AI customer
By Sean Maguire ( May 19, 2026, 06:10 GMT | Insight) -- Australia’s Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres on Tuesday described a broad interventionist approach by the federal government to invest in heavy industries, clean energy and research and development to maximize Australia's position in the new digital economy. In an address to the McKell Institute, Ayers said he does not want Australia to just be a customer for artificial intelligence. But the government's approach to fund renewable energy production for an aluminum smelter in New South Wales stands in contrast with its expectations that data centers in Australia invest in clean energy to fully offset their own power demands. Australia’s Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres on Tuesday said he does not want Australia to be just a customer for artificial intelligence at the end of global technology chains....
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