Live: Queensland premier hails data centre carve-out for coal, gas use

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has welcomed an agreement to exempt his state from having to use renewable energy to power new data centres.Follow all the updates in our live blog. Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 8:16amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 8:16amWA deputy premier says emotions were 'running high' after release of GST draft reportWestern Australia's Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti says she had a "great" and "robust" meeting with the Productivity Commission yesterday after the release of a draft report into the current GST arrangements.The commission said in the report the current GST arrangement was a "costly mistake" and recommended the federal government scrap it.It prompted a fierce rebuke from WA Premier Roger Cook who dismissed the commission as "east coast clowns" and criticised the report a "dodgy, deceitful and, quite frankly, dumb".Yesterday, Angela Jackson from the Productivity Commission said criticism of the interim report into the GST carve-up crossed a line and was "unacceptable".But Saffioti has told ABC Radio National Breakfast that emotions were "running high" in WA after the release of the interim report."We take her comments on board, but I'll say this: the draft report or the interim report that was released very much dismissed WA's submission and all the work that we put in representing our views. So of course, emotions were running high and continue to run high on this matter," Saffioti says."We outlined that we didn't think we had a good hearing in the interim report and in particular highlighted some of what we think are some of the key points."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:58amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:58amPM showed 'good streak of pragmatism' on data centres, Qld treasurer saysQueensland Treasurer David Janetzki has praised the prime minister showing a "good streak of pragmatism" at yesterday's national cabinet meeting.His state was given a carve-out to use coal and gas energy to power new data centres, despite the energy minister threatening earlier that the Commonwealth would legislate over states who refused to adopt a renewable energy standard.Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Janetzki says his state doesn't believe coal and gas should be ruled out for powering data centres."We're very supportive of a renewable sector and we do believe there'll be an opportunity for the renewables to feed into data centres and we won't be ruling out one energy form over another," Janetzki says."It's important that we take a pragmatic approach."We do believe there'll be a role for gas peaking. Coal generation in Queensland remains reliable and strong. So there will be a role for all energy sources as the data centre industry moves forward."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:52amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:52amStates must progress framework into domestic, family violence: PlibersekSocial Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says it's now up to states and territories to progress a framework that will lead to the better identification of family and domestic violence situations across the country.Yesterday, state and territory leaders agreed to a new family and domestic violence risk assessment framework.It means that wherever someone seeks help in Australia, through police, their GP, or hospital, warning signs will be recognised and acted upon.But that will ultimately depend on whether states and territories make policy changes that will bring about change.Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Plibersek says she thinks it's important states and territories take the matter "very seriously"."They are responsible for police, refuges, even schools, where a lot of the work of family, domestic, and sexual violence has to take place," Plibersek says."Having the premiers and first ministers yesterday agree to a number of really urgent items, I think is really important."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:35amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:35amPM urges Australians to follow advice of local authorities after Nepal-Tibet floodsThe prime minister has released a statement, expressing sympathy with the people who have lost their lives in the Nepal-Tibet floods overnight.A torrent of water swept through the Himalayan border region on Wednesday morning, local time, killing more than 150 people.Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that it was aware a number of Australians were in the area.In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australians in the region should follow the advice of local authorities."We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the significant flooding in Nepal and Tibet, China," Albanese says."We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare. We are liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators."We stand ready to provide consular assistance."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:31amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:31amJoyce says he doesn't think there's dissent in One Nation over migrationOne Nation MP Barnaby Joyce says he doesn't think there is dissent within his party's ranks over the net overseas migration figure.Joyce's lower house colleague David Farley told the ABC's Insiders his party's migration cuts put it on a footing "not too different" to the government, at a figure of about 230,000 a year.Pauline Hanson had to clarify on social media that One Nation's net migration target would be 130,000, "less than half" the government's current migration levels.Speaking to Channel Nine, Joyce says One Nation's net overseas migration target remains at 130,000."David was going into the details of explaining something on Insiders and of course there are certain areas probably like you, Sam, who revel in the idea of a new person at the job and how we can make this more complicated than it needs to be," Joyce says.Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:21amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:21amCrisafulli says data centre carve-out will ensure consumers pay less for powerDavid Crisafulli says the federal government's decision to grant Queensland an exemption to use coal and gas for new data centres demonstrated "genuine open-mindedness".The Queensland premier says the decision to grant his state a carve-out from using exclusively renewable energy to power data centres is a "recognition of the point of difference"Crisafulli told ABC News Breakfast he can guarantee consumers in his state will pay less for power as a result of Queensland's energy mix.He says the agreement reached with the federal government will ensure his state has a point of difference."Part of that will be about making sure that there won't be ... power increases, but we actually continue to drive down the price of power, which is what we've done to date," Crisafulli says."We've found that middle ground, and it's working."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:12amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:12amDFAT aware of Australians in area of Tibet-Nepal flood eventThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed it is aware a number of Australians are in the area where a deadly flash flood hit the Tibet-Nepal border.More than 150 people have died, and hundreds of tourists and hikers are missing after a torrent of water swept through the Himalayan border region on Wednesday morning, local time.In a statement, DFAT says it is ready to provide consular assistance to affected people."Australians in the affected area should follow the advice of local authorities," the statement said."We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare. We are liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:07amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 7:07amQueensland premier hails carve-out for his state to use coal, gas for new data centresQueensland Premier David Crisafulli is doing the morning television rounds, and he's making no secret he's super happy with yesterday's national cabinet meeting.His state was effectively given an exemption to use coal and gas energy to power new data centres.That's despite Energy Minister Chris Bowen saying ahead of the meeting that the Commonwealth would legislate over states who refused to adopt a renewable energy standard.Speaking to Channel Nine, Crisafulli says yesterday's meeting was "constructive", and the prime minister acknowledged the Queensland government's argument for using gas and coal power."We've got the youngest fleet of coal-fired power stations, we have an abundance of gas, we have an area where we're putting renewables and a plan to deliver them. That's not ideology, that's practicality," Crisafulli says."We think we can bring that to the mix with data centres and it is a competitive point of advantage and that is a distinct point of difference in Queensland and to the great credit of the prime minister he acknowledged it."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:59amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:59amGood morning 👋Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog. It's great to have you join us here on this Thursday morning!I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.National cabinet met yesterday, and in case you've missed it, Queensland was given an exemption to use coal and gas to power data centres.Chris Bowen insisted ahead of the meeting the Commonwealth would legislate over the top of states that refused to adopt a renewables standard.Let's get right into it and bring some reaction from yesterday's meeting and more right here on our blog!