Firmus Technologies is building an "AI factory" in Launceston, and has plans for two more factories in Tasmania.The company is looking to build facilities at Bell Bay in the state's north and Wesley Vale in the north-west.A community meeting was held in Exeter over the weekend, where residents raised concerns about the proposed developments.Labor MP Janie Finlay attended the meeting, and tells Leon Compton on Tasmania Mornings residents want more information from Firmus. "They want to know what this means for them and how this works in the community," she says.Leon receives a statement from Firmus during the interview.CreditsLeon Compton, PresenterPenny McLeod, ProducerSteven White, ProducerImage DetailsFirmus Technologies' construction of an AI data centre in St Leonards.(ABC News: Morgan Timms)Program:More from Tasmania MorningsHobart, Launceston, AITranscriptJanie FinlayWell, I think the really clear message was, take us seriously. There's nothing like the Tasmanian community when they get up and about on an issue and they want to be heard and they want to understand what issue is about. So the key messages coming out were, be real about us about what this means, be true about what's involved and take the time to listen and respond and engage with us about that. So there's common knowledge and then we can make responses that are informed.Leon ComptonThere is a statement just out from Firmus that's happened, I think in the last couple of minutes in response to us asking again for Firmus to talk with us this morning. They're going to extend their consultation or they're going to ask George Town Council to extend the consultation for another two weeks and we'll be holding more community information sessions to meet with local leaders. How do you greet that news, Janie Finlay?Janie FinlayOh, look, it's one, welcomed, of course, but it's not just about community leaders and where they say more consultation, the community want to understand this. They want to know what this means for them and how this works in the community. So that they are going to have community consultation sessions, I think is important. They need to be well advertised at times where people can attend and in a forum where they can actually be not just talking to, but talking with the community. So I think, you know, this comes down to the outcome of public pressure. The community have raised their voice. Yes, it's been heard. That's great. I trust that it's going to be a genuine process. One of the things that I raised at the meeting was there are two things here in parallel. There are many, but there are two obvious ones. There's the planning process with the George Town Council, which is about planning matters. But there's also the government is party to this project in terms of the energy deals. And so there's also understanding how far progressed the energy deals are. And with your introduction questions, there is so many questions about what's happening with energy in Tasmania. And that's also a critical piece here.Leon ComptonAnd so editorially, the Mornings Program wants to spend a fair bit of time over the weeks ahead talking about exactly that issue. We're hoping Nick Duigan will be part of that conversation. What is the strategy when it comes to these large energy users coming to town? If Liberty Bell Bay, or actually to pick a better example, if Rio Tinto, the aluminium smelter just down the road is battling for a finite amount of electricity with Firmus, and Firmus can offer significantly more, is that it for Bell Bay aluminium? Do you think we have answers to those questions, Janie Finlay?Janie FinlayDefinitely not. And that's why I love that. It's unfortunate the minister is not available today. I trust that you will be able to secure the minister and you'll be able to ask those questions. We've been prosecuting these questions as well through all available forums in the parliament. So there have been questions through the Energy Matters Committee, through estimates, through the parliament. Dean, myself, Tabatha, right across the parliament, across the crossbench have been prosecuting this as well. The answers are low in information. And I think there's a lot, I actually think there's a low understanding from the government about how complex this is and what's actually at play here and what they're giving up.Leon ComptonDo state Labor support data centres establishing in Tasmania?Janie FinlaySo can we just be clear here on the language? Because there's been some really interesting informed community conversation over the weekend. We have data centres in Tasmania. This is an AI factory. So there's slightly difference in terms of the amount of energy they use and how they are constructed. This is massive. Hundreds of backup diesel generators, just in case there's a down at this. We're talking about massive scale. So I am the shadow for innovation. I love AI. I love data. I love innovation. And if we can have great manufacturing and great industry in Tasmania that generates jobs, then we're all for it.Leon ComptonSo do Labor, but in simple terms, Janie Finlay, you've had a chance to have a look at it. You understand that they come with huge electricity needs. On the other hand, new renewables supposedly are coming into the system. There's a number of people working on it. There's Marinus down the line. It's a complex ecosystem when you feed in the demands of major industrials that employ a lot of people, but don't want to pay a lot for electricity. In all of that, do you support AI data centres setting up in Tasmania?Janie FinlayWe don't support Tasmanian energy being used for low value for Tasmanians. So the value of a job in a community is not just about one or two jobs that are data centre and AI factory. The value of a job is contribution and reputation in your family. It's about building a family, supporting community. For every megawatt hour that Tasmania produces now, or we're proposing to produce with new generation, that should come with a value for jobs into community, build Tasmanian economy. And at the moment, I don't think the government are across that. We've been promised, and they have not been able to deliver, new generation projects for years in Tasmania. If all of a sudden those projects are only going to back in AI factories with low jobs and low contribution into the community, then we would question that. Appears In MorningsDuration: 2 hours 29 minutes 59 seconds2h 29m1itemsIn this episode1 of 1Playing'Take us seriously': Why this community has concerns about a proposed 'AI factory'Duration: 5 minutes 1 second5m