WHERE PEOPLE LIVE

People living in major cities of Australia are more likely to access the Internet (77% in 2008-09), than those in outer regional or remote Australia (66%).

People living in remote areas are less likely to have Internet access available that is both cheap and fast. This can compound the disadvantages of living in a remote area, as shops and businesses that are already too distant for convenient access in person may also not be accessible by Internet. Furthermore, multimedia websites may be unusable and the cost of using the Internet may be expensive even where the speed is adequate.

Of the states and territories, people living in the Australian Capital Territory were most likely to access the Internet (86% in 2008-09), and people in Tasmania were least likely (68%). This may in part be related to the fact that the Tasmanian population is relatively spread out across the State, while the ACT population is almost entirely urban, thus making the provision of services cheaper. Also of influence are the different characteristics of the ACT and Tasmanian population. Use of the Internet is significantly higher for young people, highly qualified people and employed people. Tasmania had the oldest population of all the states and territories, with a median age of 39.6 years, compared with 34.7 years in the ACT (at 30 June 2009). In 2009, 47% of 25-64 year olds in the ACT had a higher education qualification, compared to 21% of Tasmanians in the same age group (see Education and training for more information), and more ACT residents (aged 15 years and over) were employed in 2009 than residents of Tasmania (70% compared to 58% respectively) (ABS 2009c; see Work for more information).