Treasurer Jim Chalmers has hailed a "stronger and broader" Australian economy following the release of encouraging national accounts data, while signalling a cautious but "upbeat" approach to the burgeoning data centre industry.
Speaking to reporters on March 4, Dr Chalmers welcomed a rise in annual GDP growth—climbing from 2.1% to 2.6%—describing the figures as a testament to improving living standards across the country.
Central to the Treasurer's economic vision is the expansion of digital infrastructure.
Dr Chalmers threw his support behind the development of data centres, categorising them as a vital component of the national business investment story.
However, he cautioned that this "welcome investment" must be balanced against environmental and resource constraints.