Cape York vs ACT

Cape York and ACT are two very different environments. Cape York is a car-dependent area where 54.4% of people speak a First Nations language, while ACT is very walkable and has a much lower share of First Nations language speakers at 7.5%. The gap in First Nations outcomes is stark; typical household income for First Nations people in ACT is $2,289, which is far higher than the $1,140 in Cape York. This is consistent with a much higher unemployment rate in Cape York (23.4%) compared to ACT (7.2%), and a higher Year 12 completion rate in ACT (58.8% versus 31.1%).

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked differently in their development and accessibility. Both areas have almost identical numbers of First Nations residents and a typical First Nations age of 24. However, the physical layouts remain opposites. In ACT, 97.6% of homes are within a 10 minute walk of public transport, whereas this is 0.0% in Cape York. The gap in walkability has remained wide, with ACT being very walkable and Cape York remaining car-dependent.