❓ Hon Wilson Tucker questions the government's strategy for achieving digital inclusion for Aboriginal communities by 2026, given the lack of state-collected data on internet connectivity. The government acknowledges the issue and outlines existing initiatives and data sources.
AnsweredQoN 745Legislative Council
Asked
16 September 2021
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier
QuestionView source ↗
DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY — REMOTE ABORIGINAL
COMMUNITIES
745. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the answers to my
question without notice 428 on 5 August and question without notice 544 on 18 August in which I was advised that the state
government does not collect data on internet connectivity in remote Indigenous communities. I draw to the Leader of the House's
attention target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap , which
states that by 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have
equal levels of digital inclusion. How does the government intend to meet its
obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap without data on the
levels of internet connectivity in remote Indigenous communities?
COMMUNITIES
745. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the answers to my
question without notice 428 on 5 August and question without notice 544 on 18 August in which I was advised that the state
government does not collect data on internet connectivity in remote Indigenous communities. I draw to the Leader of the House's
attention target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap , which
states that by 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have
equal levels of digital inclusion. How does the government intend to meet its
obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap without data on the
levels of internet connectivity in remote Indigenous communities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
Digital inclusion goes beyond
internet connectivity. It covers digital access affordability of the internet
and devices and digital skills. The Western Australian government will work
with Aboriginal Western Australians to determine ways to achieve better digital
inclusion. That work is aligned to the objectives of the draft, Digital
inclusion in Western Australia: A blueprint
for a digitally-inclusive state .
The WA government recognises that connectivity in regional and remote
areas is a significant barrier that must be addressed. That is why the WA
government is implementing the regional telecommunications project, an $85
million initiative, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development, with mobile network operators and the Australian
government's mobile black spot program as partners.
The current source of data about
information technology and Aboriginal people, including accessing the internet,
supplied equipment and access to government services, is the Australian Bureau
of Statistics' National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander social survey . The Australian digital inclusion index also collects and publicly
reports on data measuring digital
inclusion for Aboriginal people. In 2016, the ABS Census also included a question
about internet access in dwellings with at least one Aboriginal person
residing. This question did not appear in the 2021 Census.
some notice of the question.
Digital inclusion goes beyond
internet connectivity. It covers digital access affordability of the internet
and devices and digital skills. The Western Australian government will work
with Aboriginal Western Australians to determine ways to achieve better digital
inclusion. That work is aligned to the objectives of the draft, Digital
inclusion in Western Australia: A blueprint
for a digitally-inclusive state .
The WA government recognises that connectivity in regional and remote
areas is a significant barrier that must be addressed. That is why the WA
government is implementing the regional telecommunications project, an $85
million initiative, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development, with mobile network operators and the Australian
government's mobile black spot program as partners.
The current source of data about
information technology and Aboriginal people, including accessing the internet,
supplied equipment and access to government services, is the Australian Bureau
of Statistics' National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander social survey . The Australian digital inclusion index also collects and publicly
reports on data measuring digital
inclusion for Aboriginal people. In 2016, the ABS Census also included a question
about internet access in dwellings with at least one Aboriginal person
residing. This question did not appear in the 2021 Census.
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