Aug 5, 2026 – 5.58pmThe Albanese government is set for a national cabinet showdown with Queensland and the Northern Territory over data centres after Energy Minister Chris Bowen threatened to write new laws to veto any state plans to power the facilities with non-green energy.Bowen on Wednesday formally requested the regulator change Australia’s grid rules to create a world-first requirement that all new large data centres pay the full cost of new poles and wire infrastructure needed to power their operations.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles