Microsoft pledges A$25B in Australia

Microsoft said on April 23 it will invest A$25 billion in Australia by the end of 2029 to expand AI and cloud infrastructure. (microsoft.com) Chairman and Chief Executive Satya Nadella announced the plan alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his Australia visit on April 22-23. Microsoft said it is the company’s largest-ever investment in Australia. (microsoft.com 1) (microsoft.com 2) The company said the spending will lift its in-country cloud and AI computing capacity by more than 140% through new data-center and advanced processor deployments. The build-out is scheduled to run through 2029. (microsoft.com) Microsoft tied the package to two other promises: expanding its Microsoft-ASD Cyber Shield program to more critical government agencies, and helping train three million Australians in AI skills by 2028. (microsoft.com 1) (microsoft.com 2) Australia has become a priority market as governments push to keep data, computing power and cyber defenses onshore. Microsoft said the investment aligns with Canberra’s expectations for data centers and AI infrastructure developers. (microsoft.com) The announcement also lands as Microsoft keeps raising global spending on servers, chips and data centers to meet demand for Azure and AI services. In its fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings call, the company said quarterly capital expenditures reached $34.9 billion. (microsoft.com) At the same time, Microsoft has started its first voluntary buyout program in the United States, with CNBC reporting eligibility for employees at senior director level and below whose age plus years of service equal 70 or more. (cnbc.com) That leaves Australia as one of the clearest examples of Microsoft’s current strategy: more money for compute capacity, cybersecurity and AI training, locked in on a four-year timetable. (microsoft.com)