More Queenslanders are booting-up their computers and logging on to the Internet using broadband technolgy at home, Premier Peter Beattie says.
He says a new state-wide survey of 3,300 households by the Queensland Office of Economic and Statistical Research showed 73% of Queenslanders have a computer at home.
Some 20% of adults who did not have a home computer intended to buy one in the next 12 months.
"About 60% of homes have \Internet access and more Queenslanders are switching to high-speed broadband to access the web," Beattie said while launching a package of Queensland government initiatives for the ICT industry.
"In 2004, 18% of households are using broadband, an 80% increase since 2003.
"Queensland government initiatives such as SmartNet and Reef Network have given more people in regional Queensland access to broadband, enabling them to take advantage of ICT to improve their daily lives.
"The survey reveals 35% of adults in the ‘smart state' prefer to use the Internet to pay bills, make bookings and apply for permits, and 35% of people made an online purchase in the last 12 months."
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing, Robert Schwarten, says that through SmartNet, Queensland is leading Australia in using the government's buying power to lower the costs of telecommunications.
"Through SmartNet we have been working with Optus to deliver broadband infrastructure into 30 regional centres and install optical fibre networks in the business districts of Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton," he says.
"As part of this SmartNet arrangement Queensland businesses will also have access to Telstra's cheaper and faster business-grade broadband services.
"The beauty of SmartNet is that we are not only improving government service delivery, we are also increasing access to broadband services in regional Queensland
"It is expected over the next 12 months that more Queenslanders will be switching to broadband technology."
The survey is available at
www.publicworks.qld.gov.au.