Datacentre companies’ political payments face renewed scrutiny in Australia

Datacentre companies are seeking to build facilities in Australia, including in Melbourne and Sydney.

Federal disclosures show Amazon made 34 payments totalling $538,000 to Labor and Liberal party branches over six years.

Some payments were made near major datacentre announcements, though the article says the timing was coincidental and the payments did not influence government decisions.

Some money went to party fundraising groups that provide access to ministers and MPs; under Australian electoral law, these fees are listed as “other receipts,” not donations.

Amazon says its fundraising payments were not related to public investments, including datacentre projects.

Political operatives, including a former premier, have also been paid to lobby governments for datacentre companies.

The payments are legal, but they are drawing scrutiny as communities push back against the fast-tracking of datacentre projects.