Google will spend A$1 billion ($736 million) in Australia over five years, the internet giant said on Tuesday.
The main operating unit of Alphabet said it planned to expand cloud infrastructure, set up a research hub staffed by Australian researchers and engineers, and partner with science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.
Google Australia Managing Director Mel Silva, who earlier this year threatened to block Google’s search engine in the country, said the spending plan would bring significant technology resources and investment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the plan a “A$1 billion vote of confidence” in Australia, and said it would “bring more STEM jobs to our shores”, using the acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
At a parliamentary hearing in January, Silva said Google might block its search engine in Australia to avoid new laws forcing the company and social media operator Facebook to pay news outlets for content posted to their website.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
