A motion recognizing OneWebDay drafted by the Hon. Penny Sharpe (MLC) was passed by the Upper House on September 23, 2009. Here’s a link to the motion: http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090923006.

The full text of the motion is as follows:

1. That this House notes that:

(a) Tuesday 22 September is OneWebDay,

(b) the theme of the 2009 OneWebDay is One Web. For All,

(c) OneWebDay is a global event that will be celebrated in 20 countries and in 50 cities and is a network of organisations, citizens and consumers who are committed to universal and equal access to the Internet,

(d) the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that in 2007-08, 67 per cent of Australian households had home Internet access and 75 per cent of households had access to a computer, and show that in the last 10 years household use of the Internet had quadrupled from 16 per cent to 67 per cent and access to computers has increased by 31 per cent to 75 per cent,

(e) despite growth in Internet usage, there remains a significant digital divide between those who have regular access to a computer and the Internet and those who do not, in particular, indigenous Australians, people living in remote communities with lower education qualifications or incomes, people with a disability and single parent households, and

(f) as the Internet and digital services become more integrated into everyday economic, social and cultural life, those who are unable to access, understand and use this technology safely and with confidence will be excluded from its many benefits.

2. That this House supports:

(a) initiatives that work to close the digital divide, including access to broadband, access to computers, support for public library and community information hubs, free wifi access points in public places, and education and community initiatives that teach people how to use technology, and

(b) moves to open government processes and make public information more accessible.

OneWebDay Executive Director, Nathaniel James

Read the full article at Yes! Magazine.