TasCOSS, Anglicare Tasmania, Carers Tasmania, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania, Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) Tasmania, Shelter Tasmania, The Smith Family and TasICT call on the next state government to prioritise closing the digital divide in Tasmania and commit to actions that will improve digital inclusion for all Tasmanians.
What is digital inclusion?
Digital inclusion is about making sure everyone can safely, confidently and affordably use digital technologies, so they can share in the economic and social benefits of being online.
A digitally included Tasmania is one where all Tasmanians can participate in our digital economy to: find and maintain work; access education, health and government services; manage their finances; maintain social connections; and find reliable news and information, especially in times of crisis.
As more government services, commerce and social engagement moves online, those who are digitally excluded fall further behind and the digital divide widens, compounding other forms of disadvantage.
The digital divide:
All Tasmanians have the right to affordable access to digital technology and the skills and confidence to use it. While digital inclusion is gradually improving in Tasmania, the benefits are not being equally shared.
There remains a substantial digital divide between those who have ready access to devices and the internet, and those who cannot access or navigate the online world. Tasmanians with low levels of income, education and employment, older Tasmanians, Aboriginal Tasmanians, those living in social housing and those living in regional areas (outside of Hobart and Launceston), are impacted by higher rates of digital exclusion than the rest of the state’s population.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the growing digital divide that has been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis. Working to close the digital divide will ensure that more Tasmanians, and the state as a whole, benefit from the huge social, economic and productivity gains from being online.
Why do we need action?
- Tasmania is the second-most digitally disadvantaged state or territory in the country and has consistently lagged behind the other states. (Australian Digital Inclusion Index)
- Tasmania is the worst-ranked for digital literacy and skills of all jurisdictions in the country. (Australian Digital Inclusion Index)
- One-in-four Tasmanians (approximately 144,000 people) experience at least one barrier to digital inclusion — digital access, affordability or digital skills/ability. (Australian Digital Inclusion Index)
- Around 54,000 Tasmanians are highly digitally excluded, meaning they are either unable to get online, or if they can, lack the skills to navigate the online world. (Australian Digital Inclusion Index)
- The Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council (PESRAC) recommendations for action to address the digital divide in Tasmania and to boost Tasmania’s long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have not been implemented. (Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council Final Report)
- Tasmania has the fastest growing ageing demographic in Australia and older Tasmanians are one of the most digitally disadvantaged cohorts.
Our goal:
The PESRAC Final Report recommended the digital divide must be genuinely tackled by setting clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and significantly investing in actions to achieve those KPIs. (Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Council Final Report)
We urge the next state government to set a target to improve Tasmania’s Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) scores across all indices to the national average by 2030.
To help achieve our goal, solutions that we support, include:
Access:
- Improve digital infrastructure, network coverage and free public Wi-Fi, particularly in regional areas and blackspots.
- Ensure all government secondary school students have access to their own devices and data to enable them to do schoolwork, homework and online-schooling.
Affordability:
- Reduce the cost of telecommunications by:
- Introducing a telecommunications concession for low income households; and
- Working with providers to develop a low-cost broadband plan for all low income households.
Digital Ability:
- Substantial investment in digital skills and literacy through community-based initiatives, such as a network of coaches and peer workers to support priority groups impacted by higher rates of digital exclusion.
- Increased resourcing across the Libraries Tasmania network and the Neighbourhood Houses network to ensure all locations can provide consistent, regular digital support to the community.
- Support the Tasmanian ICT industry to deliver programs for community services organisations that build scams, cyber security and artificial intelligence awareness.