Coen vs Laura

Coen and Laura are two remote Queensland towns located about 222 km apart. Coen has a far larger First Nations population, with 206 people compared to 76 in Laura. Education levels differ sharply between them; 40% of First Nations people in Coen finished Year 12, which is far higher than the 13.2% in Laura. While Coen has better access to groceries, with 91% of homes within a 15-minute walk, Laura has more homes within a short walk of health services (73.3%) and schools (63.8%).

Both towns have remained mostly car-dependent since 2011, and they share very similar First Nations income levels. In both places, typical First Nations personal income is around $477. They also both have no homes within walking distance of a park or public transport. This lack of accessible infrastructure is consistent across both areas as they continue to track closely with one another.