CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA -- The Gillard Government today foreshadowed a major national strategy that will provide a roadmap for Australia to leverage the National Broadband Network (NBN) and become a world leading digital economy by 2020.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy and Federal Member for Perth Stephen Smith made the announcement during a visit to the Perth retail store -- the Beaufort Street Merchant -- today.

The Prime Minister said investment in world class digital infrastructure through the NBN is only the beginning.

How we use this technology to drive our economy, deliver better health and education services, improve environmental sustainability and drive business productivity will be the most important aspect of the NBN.

The roadmap will provide Australians with a clear vision of what an NBN-enabled world will look like and what steps the Gillard Government, in collaboration with industry and the community, will take to get there.

Senator Conroy said if Australia is to become one of the world's leading digital economies by 2020, it must have a national digital strategy. 72 per cent of Australian households have internet access and of those 64 per cent are using it to purchase goods or services. Yet 59 per cent of Australian businesses do not have a web presence, and 73 per cent do not offer sales transactions online.

This means that a large percentage of Australian businesses are missing out on the opportunities that the digital economy can provide.

The National Digital Economy Strategy will map the key areas of focus and outline programs that will allow Australian families, not-for-profits and small and medium businesses to enjoy the economic and social benefits that the NBN can deliver.

These programs will create digital hubs in local towns where people who aren't online can experience the benefits.

NBN Co Ltd.