1300.1 - New South Wales Year Book, 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/03/2000   
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MEDIA RELEASE

March 30, 2000
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
35/2000

How NSW Measures Up

New South Wales' vital statistics were put on show today in the release of the Year 2000 edition of the State's Year Book by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The New South Wales Regional Director of the ABS, Mr Greg Bray said the New South Wales Year Book "has always been an important reference on the current facts and figures of the State".

"The New South Wales Year Book comprehensively reviews all statistical aspects of New South Wales social, economic, government and environment conditions and is supplemented with information from many other NSW Government departments and authorities," he said.

New features in this 80th edition of the Year Book include a section dealing with Information Technology and the Internet, a new chapter focussing on the fast growing service industries and an article on household safety and home injuries in NSW. A historical timeline detailing major events in NSW since 1788 and selected historical statistics back to 1901 are also included.

"The New South Wales Year Book is an excellent resource on New South Wales and a good on-going source for media reporting," Mr Bray said.

New South Wales Year Book brief highlights:
  • In 1998, 18% of NSW households and 27% businesses had Internet access;
  • Just over 1 million households in NSW had a home computer with 47% of owners using them daily in 1998;
  • In the past ten years, the proportion of married women in NSW who had their first child at age 30 years and over increased from 26% to 41% in 1998;
  • The number of children born outside marriage in NSW increased from about 5% in 1960 to 27% in 1998;
  • On average, women in NSW spent just under three hours per day on domestic activities compared to one and a half hours for men;
  • Fewer people in NSW participated in sport than in any other State or Territory — 45% of NSW people participated in the 12 months to June 1998;
  • 19% of people in NSW had a disability, but the rate increased with age to over half of people aged 65 years and over in 1998;
  • One in 20 NSW households were broken into and 2% were victims of motor vehicle theft in the 12 months to April 1998; and
  • In 1998 two thirds of NSW businesses were in service industries.

Further details can be found in New South Wales Year Book 2000 (cat. no. 1300.1). If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS bookshop in your capital city.