USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This section focuses on key indicators of the use of information technology (IT) by businesses and households in Australia.


BUSINESSES

In the four-year period from 2005–06 to 2009–10, the proportion of Australian businesses with access to the Internet increased from 81% to 91% and those with a web presence from 30% to 42%. (For the first time, the 2009–10 survey included employing businesses in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry. Data presented on comparisons over time exclude these businesses.)

In 2009–10, nearly all (99%) businesses with 200 or more employees had Internet access, while the proportion was 87% for businesses with 0–4 employees (table 25.1). Most businesses with 200 or more employees had a web presence (94%), while over a quarter (29%) of businesses with 0–4 employees had a web presence.

In 2009–10, the proportion of businesses using IT varied considerably across industries. Almost all businesses within the Information media and telecommunications industry had Internet access, followed by Financial and insurance services (98%) and Professional, scientific and technical services (97%). Accommodation and food services had the lowest proportion of businesses with Internet access (74%), followed by Agriculture, forestry and fishing (83%). Web presence was highest in Arts and recreation Services (65%) and Information media and telecommunications (58%), while Agriculture, forestry and fishing and Transport, postal and warehousing had the lowest proportions of businesses with a web presence (11% and 22% respectively).

25.1 BUSINESS USE OF SELECTED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, AUSTRALIA(a), By employment size and industry—2009–10
		Businesses with Internet access(b)	Businesses with web presence(b)
		%	%
Employment size
	0–4 persons	87.3	29.2
	5–19 persons	93.7	51.5
	20–199 persons	96.4	73.0
	200 or more persons	99.2	94.0
Industry(c)
	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	83.0	10.9
	Mining	95.6	48.7
	Manufacturing	90.8	52.0
	Electricity, gas, water and waste services	88.8	40.8
	Construction	91.7	27.4
	Wholesale trade	96.1	57.3
	Retail trade	88.7	46.0
	Accommodation and food services	73.6	42.8
	Transport, postal and warehousing	84.1	21.7
	Information media and telecommunications	99.8	58.3
	Financial and insurance services	98.0	55.8
	Rental, hiring and real estate services	89.3	50.3
	Professional, scientific and technical services	97.0	50.3
	Administrative and support services	92.3	39.6
	Health care and social assistance	91.4	36.4
	Arts and recreation services	95.3	64.9
	Other services	88.9	40.4
Total		90.1	40.0
(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each category. (b) As at 30 June 2010. (c) Classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 edition (1292.0).
Source: Business use of Information Technology (8129.0).

HOUSEHOLDS

The percentage of Australian households with access to the Internet at home has continued to increase, from 67% in 2006–07 to 79% in 2010–11 (graph 25.2).




There were an estimated 6.2 million households (73% of all households in Australia) with a broadband Internet connection in 2010–11.

In 2006–07, 68% of households with Internet access had a broadband connection. This proportion has grown to 92% in 2010–11.

Home Internet access is more common in households with higher incomes (graph 25.3). The proportion of households in the highest income quintile with Internet access in 2010–11 was 95%, compared with 55% for households in the lowest income quintile.




Home Internet access is also more common in households with children under 15 years of age (93%), compared with other households (74%). Additionally, the proportion of households with home Internet access is higher in state and territory capitals (82%) than other areas (74%).

In 2010–11, 83% of households had access to a computer at home (graph 24.4). Since 2006–07, household computer access has increased by 10 percentage points.

 

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