Australia is standing on the precipice of a $150 billion tech investment boom that could rival the Pilbara iron ore rush. But do we have the workers, the water, and the energy grid to pull it off? Tim Buckley, a 40-year finance analyst and Director of Climate Energy Finance, joins Stress Tested to outline the staggering scale of the AI data centre rollout.

Tim explains why American tech giants are desperate to build in Australia, how the massive energy demands of data centres are pushing up electricity prices, and why the government's move to mandate "bring your own clean energy" is essential to avoid a complete collapse of the energy grid. He also sounds the alarm on a brewing crisis: if every tradie is building data centres, who is going to build houses for Australians?

With the Albanese government threatening to ban data centres near homes and schools, Tim breaks down the situation in West Footscray (dubbed "Mordor" by angry locals). He warns that without proper community engagement and fast-tracked planning, Australia could lose out on $150 billion in tech investment to countries like India and Malaysia. He also dives into the geopolitical threat of American tech monopolies, the reality of the Albanese government's new planning rules, and whether the AI boom is actually a net positive for humanity.

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