'The survey also found that nearly 70 per cent of respondents would now much rather give someone they had just met their email address than their telephone number,' Senator Alston said.
'A large number of Australians also claim to spend a long time sending and receiving emails each day. Almost a third of respondents said they spent two or more hours a day doing this - an indication of the incredible impact that email has had on our daily communications.'
The AOL Vibe Survey was carried out on Online Australia Day 1999 and involved an online sample of 1200 respondents from across the country.
Senator Alston said that the nation's second Online Australia Day last Friday had been a huge success.
'The Online Australia Day websites received more than 1.7 million 'hits' last Friday, making it the most successful event of its kind to date. What is clear this year is that more and more families are getting online and discovering what the internet has to offer,' Senator Alston said.
'Online Australia Day was an outstanding success and this reflects the enthusiasm with which Australians from all walks of life are bringing to the rapidly developing Australian online economy.'
Senator Alston said the Government had established Online Australia Day in recognition of the need to raise community awareness about the employment, business, social, educational and entertainment opportunities available on the internet.
'As a nation we are developing a vibrant online economy and community and it is through events such as Online Australia Day that the possibilities of such an online presence are explored and discussed,' Senator Alston said.
Online Australia Day was supported by a large number of individuals, community, business and media groups and governments across the nation. It was co-ordinated and developed by Online Australia, a Commonwealth Government initiative to raise awareness of the ways online technologies are changing and enhancing Australians' lives.
