Information about State now available on Internet

12/03/96

A wealth of valuable information about Western Australia's regions has just become available to millions of people around the world via the Internet.

The material includes comparisons of economic and social statistics between the State's nine regions, and between the regions and Perth.

"I expect this information will be tapped by business people and investors as they assess possible locations for new industry around WA," Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan said today.

"It will also be very useful to State and Federal Government agencies, to local governments, academia and students."

The material has been published by the State's Regional Development Council, the peak advisory body to the Minister for Regional Development. It is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.wa.gov.au/gov/regional.

It consists of two booklets with detailed statistics of WA's nine regions: 'A Statistical Snapshot of the Regions' and 'Western Australia: a City-Country Comparison'. The information includes health, population, income and economic data.

Mr Cowan said the figures confirmed the different strengths and weaknesses of the various regions.

The booklets were produced for the Regional Development Council by the Department of Commerce and Trade.

The council consists of the chairpersons of WA's nine Regional Development Commissions. The council works closely with the Department of Commerce and Trade to stimulate economic growth across WA and to identify the major issues that impact on the regions in areas such as health, tourism and transport.

Media contact: Peter Jackson 222 9595