Communication, while not given headline status, has nevertheless been included as a supplementary dimension because of its relevance to whether life in Australia is getting better.

In 2008-09, 72% of Australian households had home Internet access, more than four times the proportion in 1998 (16%). The proportion of households with a broadband Internet connection increased from 16% in 2004-05 to almost two-thirds (62%) in 2008-09. For those households that had Internet access, 86% had a broadband connection in 2008-09.

Between 1998 and 2008-09, the proportion of households that had access to a computer increased from 44% to 78%. 

Household Internet access

Household broadband access

Household computer access