Firmus forecasts 8,900 Tasmanian jobs and $46b boost, but faces diesel questions

Firmus Technologies says its Tasmanian AI data centres could add up to $46 billion to the state economy by 2035 and generate about 8,900 ongoing full-time equivalent jobs, based on preliminary modelling put to a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Pulse Tasmania reported that co-founder and co-chief executive Tim Rosenfield described the third-party study, commissioned at the state government's request, as close to final, with an extract handed to the committee.

Rosenfield said most data centre companies speak only of construction jobs, while Firmus runs its own facilities. "We need a lot more people outside the data centre than we actually do inside the data centre," he said. He said Firmus had retrained former smelter workers in the north with electrical and mechanical qualifications, and had about 40 staff working off-site, among them coders and developers in Hobart and Launceston. He also pointed to the subsea cable to the mainland that Firmus is funding with partner Subco, which he said would substantially improve Tasmania's connectivity.

Other witnesses were more cautious on jobs. TasICT Chief Executive Russell Kelly told the inquiry that a data centre creates work during construction but far fewer roles once running, saying the number was "quite limited" compared with an aluminium smelter. He said a community benefit fund could link developments to TasTAFE and the University of Tasmania, and that the state's technology workforce was forecast to grow only from 10,800 to 11,500 over the next decade. Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis told the inquiry Firmus' planned $2.7 billion investment was "the largest private technology investment that we have ever seen in Tasmania". Ellis said the government's final statement of expectations for data centres, including a local community benefit fund, would be released "soon".

The ABC reported that the inquiry also questioned Firmus over diesel generators. George Town Council set a condition on the Long Reach approval limiting the 276 backup generators to emergencies, maintenance and testing, and Firmus has appealed it. Firmus called the condition "unreasonable" and said it would block generator use during periods of "energy market stress". Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority has sought to join the appeal, saying it would have assessed the proposal differently had it known of use "potentially whenever it is commercially convenient for the operator". Firmus energy manager Paul Grzinic told the inquiry the generators were for backup only and not meant to run when commercially convenient. He said the company wanted clarity on the broad definition of emergency and could not discuss the appeal in detail. Greens MP and acting inquiry chair Tabatha Badger said it would not make sense to Tasmanians that Firmus described the use as emergency-only while appealing the condition.

Rosenfield declined to name Firmus' customers, saying disclosure was not normal practice for data centre developers. The ABC noted the company has previously said the Launceston and Wesley Vale facilities are contracted to customers, with Long Reach under option to a customer. Firmus withdrew its planned initial public offering last month after lacklustre investor interest, according to the ABC. Rosenfield said Nvidia was among supportive shareholders and that the decision "doesn't change our growth plans, not one bit". The inquiry will continue hearings before making recommendations to the government.