Timeline for Ben Carroll
#15 22 Sept
Released the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Victoria makes data centres bring powerBackground
Ben Carroll is Premier of Victoria, Australia, and leader of the Victorian Labor Party. His office places him at the centre of the state government's decisions on public services, infrastructure and economic policy.
He became premier on 28 July 2026 after serving as Deputy Premier from September 2023. He had also been Victoria's Education Minister from October 2023.
Carroll's role matters because the Premier sets the Victorian government's direction and leads its parliamentary majority. On 22 September, he announced state policy for future data-centre development, illustrating the office's role in setting statewide planning and energy rules.
Common Questions
What does Victoria's Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan require?
New data centres must supply their own new renewable generation and storage, pay their own connection and network costs, avoid drinking water for cooling, and sit 150 metres from homes.Source: Lowdown update 715
When did Ben Carroll become Premier of Victoria?
28 July 2026, succeeding Jacinta Allan after her resignation. He had been her Deputy Premier since September 2023.Source: ABC News
Does Victoria's data-centre plan apply to existing projects?
No. It is not retrospective; approved projects and eight applications already before the minister are exempt, so the rules bite on the next wave rather than the current one.Source: Lowdown update 715
