Sydney, 26 August 2026: First ministers* have signed off on a new national framework for large AI data centres and a revised National Firearms Agreement in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack, while also endorsing a national family and domestic violence risk assessment framework. The Sydney meeting, held today, later released a media statement detailing the meeting outcomes.
Data centres to ‘bring their own power’
National Cabinet agreed to move towards a nationally consistent regulatory framework for large artificial intelligence data centres, focusing on their energy and water use, planning approvals and impacts on the electricity grid
Under the approach backed by the Commonwealth, new large data centres will effectively be required to “bring their own” additional renewable generation or otherwise cover the full cost of their power and water demands, rather than relying on existing household and business supply.
Queensland and the Northern Territory had signalled they would not sign a blanket national agreement. The final deal recognises the NT’s – and implicitly other jurisdictions’ – different energy circumstances while still moving to consistent national standards, reports say.
New firearms agreement after Bondi attack
In response to the December 2025 Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack, first ministers signed a new National Firearms Agreement that prohibits the manufacture of 3D‑printed firearms and the possession or distribution of files or instructions to make them.
The deal makes Australian citizenship a condition of holding a firearms licence, with agreed exemptions for certain temporary visa holders and workers, and establishes formal sharing of Commonwealth criminal intelligence with states and territories to improve licensing and risk checks.
National family violence risk framework
National Cabinet also agreed a new National Family and Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Framework, designed to standardise how frontline services, police and courts identify and assess risk across jurisdictions and improve information sharing and early intervention.
Health and security risks on agenda
Leaders discussed avian influenza spillover to mammals, agreeing to strengthen surveillance, veterinary response protocols and intergovernmental coordination as the virus adapts. They also reviewed ongoing work on fuel security in light of the escalating Middle East conflict, including contingency planning for supply disruptions.
*Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister; Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW; Ben Carroll MP, Premier of Victoria; David Crisafulli MP, Premier of Queensland; Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia; Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia; Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier of Tasmania; Andrew Barr MLA, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory and Lia Finocchiaro MLA,Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
