Coastal Queenslanders are spending more of their income on internet compared to South-East Queenslanders, according to a new report by the McKell Institute examining the Sunshine State's digital divide.
The report, 'Bridging the Digital Divide' is the latest exploration of the growing problem of digital exclusion in Queensland and made its findings by examining detailed data from the Australian Digital Inclusion Index and partnering with the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) to undertake a deeper dive into the human cost of this disadvantage.
The report reveals that when vulnerable Queenslanders are unable to afford or confidently use digital technologies, 76 per cent simply go without. 55 per cent of vulnerable Queenslanders only use free wifi, 47 per cent rely on family or friends, and 22 per cent go into debt to pay for data.
The report draws on existing public data showing Queensland is increasingly divided between digital 'haves' and digital 'have-nots.' Geography is a big factor with people in regional 'Coastal Queensland' (Mackay to Gympie) having to spend a much higher proportion of their income on digital technologies, and people living in North West Queensland (including Cape York) less likely to use sophisticated digital technologies, compared to people in South East Queensland (including Brisbane).
On key digital inclusion measures – access to technology, digital affordability, and the ability to use technologies – the report notes Queensland ranks fifth among Australian states, behind the ACT, NSW, WA and Victoria. The leading driver of digital exclusion is data affordability.
McKell Institute Queensland's Executive Director, Rachel Nolan, said the State Government now faced an important juncture in addressing the growing divide.
"As Queensland's economic and civic life moves increasingly online, an inability to join that movement will force already disadvantaged people further into the shadows – unless both state and federal governments make key policy changes to close the digital divide," Ms Nolan said.
"Digital exclusion means those in vulnerable financial circumstances cannot access government services. It leaves domestic violence victims stranded from online services and causes children to be severely disadvantaged in education.
"In recent years a number of state governments have developed ambitious digital inclusion strategies. We recommend that Queensland does the same.
"Our new report makes a number of recommendations for how Queensland can build on its existing initiatives to help close the gap. The Queensland Government should, for example, conduct a full of audit of the infrastructure and digital equipment needs of its public libraries, Indigenous Knowledge Centres, and community centres to make sure they can act as proper digital access and support hubs.
"We also need a clear digital inclusion roadmap with specific objectives and timeframes as well as a consistent digital capability framework to improve the delivery of the currently fragmented digital literacy programs across the State.
"The Queensland Government should also push the federal government, which holds primary responsibility for telecommunications, to offer discounted NBN plans to households receiving government income benefits.
"The Australian Government spent over $50 billion of public money on constructing an NBN because it rightly decided that digital inclusion for every Australian was in the national interest. It is therefore madness that we do not have strong measures in place to ensure that every Australian citizen can actually afford to access the NBN – especially those doing it tough who may need it most."
An Executive Summary of the report can be found here.
The full report can be found here.
