Labor’s reshuffle tells us a few things – Environment? Don’t care. Cyclists? Don’t care. AI data centres? More please!
The Victorian Greens say that Labor’s priorities have been made crystal clear: rolling out the red carpet for big tech corporations top the list, while the environment is not even on the page.
Victoria now has the fifth Environment Minister in five years. A revolving door that shows how little priority Labor gives to protecting our natural environment.
‘Active’ has been dropped from the Public Transport Minister’s title – which the Greens say sends a clear signal that helping more Victorians to safely walk or cycle and lowering vehicle emissions, is not a priority.
And the cherry on top is that Victoria now has a Minister for AI as Labor doubles down on special treatment for big tech corporations and even more AI data centres that spell disaster for Victoria’s environment.
The Victorian Greens say that if anyone is going to believe that Labor’s AI data centre plan and the environment are compatible, they should think again.
Not only is Labor already neglecting nature as it is, they’re now walking away from active transport and doubling down on AI data centres that will make things far worse.
As stated by the Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Dr Sarah Mansfield:
“Labor’s been rolling out the red carpet for these AI data centres that guzzle water and energy and spell total disaster for the environment – and now they’ve even got a new Minister dedicated to bringing in even more of them.
“If anyone in Labor actually cared about the environment, they wouldn’t be throwing the portfolio around like a hot potato every ten seconds while fast-tracking data centres that risk wreaking havoc on our environment and keeping Victoria hooked on coal and gas longer.
“If Labor genuinely cared about responsible investment, they would be supporting industries that create jobs to protect our climate, water and environment. But instead, they’re prioritising big tech corporations and fast-tracking data centres that send us backwards on all of the above.”
