MEDIA RELEASE
May 13, 2009	Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)	26/2009

Canberra has kept its title as the most cultured city in the nation. This Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) snapshot of the capital shows that ACT residents had the highest attendance rate (90%) at cultural venues and events out of all states and territories in 2005-06.

The most popular venues patronised by ACT residents were cinemas (71%), museums (47%), botanic gardens (44%), art galleries (40%), popular music concerts (34%) and theatre performances (26%).

Younger people (between 15 and 34) were Canberra's most avid culture vultures: women were slightly more likely to be at cultural activities than their counterparts - unless it was for a popular music concert which was more of a drawcard for men.

Males commit majority of crime in the ACT

Significantly more men appeared before ACT's criminal courts during 2007-08 than women (4,178 were men - out of a total of 5,315). Seventy percent of all defendants (3,695) were found guilty.

621 defendants received custodial orders: 274 sent to a correctional institution, 63 placed in the community, 284 receiving fully suspended sentences and 3,074 defendants received non-custodial orders.

Further details can be found in the May 2009 issue of In fACT - Statistical information on the ACT and Region (cat. no. 1308.8) available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.