Now is our chance to put a stop to increasing inequality in Tasmania and nowhere is this inequality more obvious than in Tasmanians’ ability to afford, access and navigate the Internet.
For the second year running, Tasmania holds the wooden spoon across all measures of Digital Inclusion: Access, Affordability and Digital ability.
According to the Australia Digital Inclusion Index 2017 released yesterday, Tasmania remains at the bottom nationally and the gap is growing.
“Economies do not create strong communities; they are just one element of them,” TasCOSS CEO Kym Goodes said.
“A booming economy such as Tasmania is experiencing now will not bring positive outcomes to all of us until our systems, services and supports are equally accessible, affordable and usable.
“The ADII 2017 points to clear lines along which the digital divide runs in Tasmania: If you are on a low income, are older, haven’t completed secondary school and/or are not in paid employment, you are being left behind.
“Long term change for Tasmanians is achievable.
“We now need to look deeper into how our State’s emerging prosperity and the increasing strength of our economy can be leveraged to eliminate inequality.
“Tasmania’s last place ranking in the ADII 2017 is a clear measure of one essential area where we can work to reconnect Tasmanians who have yet to share in economic, education and employment gains being felt in some areas.
“We now have the evidence in our hands; it’s time to bring together government and community to co-design responses that ensure next year’s ADII shows progress in the right direction.
“The gap between those Tasmanians who can access, use and benefit from digital connections and those who are isolated and excluded from them is growing as is the gap between Australians and Tasmanians by the same measure.”
Kym Goodes, CEO, TasCOSS
