Tasmanian Govt uses NBN to attract data centres

Developing strategy to lure investors and builders.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has revealed plans to leverage the national broadband network architecture to become Australia's data centre hub.

Bartlett said the State Government was creating a data centre industry development strategy to attract facilities to the island state.

"There is a very real opportunity on the back of the current optic fibre roll out to attract and build data centres in Tasmania," Bartlett said.

"High-speed optic fibre along with our abundance of renewable energy and secure environment makes Tasmania a very attractive location for new data centres.

"It was a Labor Government that ensured Tasmania was the first cab off the rank with the NBN, and it is a Labor Government that Tasmanians can rely on to ensure our state reaps the full benefits of that investment through the attraction of new-generation industries and sustainable jobs."

He said data centres and server farms would allow for the "establishment of new industries and thousands more jobs over the next decade".

The strategy being developed would look at programs and policies to achieve growth beyond just attracting the centres to Tasmania.

And it would detail "opportunities to leverage government data management requirements".

Federal and state governments are looking to consolidate data centres and server rooms run by departments and agencies.