This report presents the findings of a research project which assessed the social impact of the Warrnambool exchange fire. The fire occurred on 22 November 2012, and caused a telecommunications outage that lasted for about 20 days.

Executive summary

Contrary to the conventional wisdom about media consumption dividing along generational or political lines, a new survey finds that the nature of the news itself—the topic and speed of the story—largely determines where people go to learn about events and the path they take to get there. The findings also suggest that some long-held beliefs...

Successive bushfire inquiries in Australia have called for authorities to more effectively harness and disseminate bushfire information. Recommendations from these inquiries suggest a new approach to bushfires involving greater co-ordination, in which home dwellers, emergency fire services and government work more closely together and acknowledge that education, safety, planning and emergency management can be effective...

This paper seeks to contribute additional ideas that may foster the more equal participation of all Australians in the growing digital economy, which is the harbinger of far-reaching changes to how citizens will engage with government, business, and each other.