Funny the things that take top billing in Australian public life. The first graphic (and we are indebted to economics professor Joshua Gans for bringing them to our attention, via Andrew Leigh) shows OECD broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants, by technology as at December 2005.

Australia is midfield at 17, somewhere around average. A source of abiding national concern. (Click on the images to see a more readable version)

The second graph shows percentage of GDP spent on pre-primary education, as at 2002. Australia is stone, motherless last.

Maybe the kids need WiMAX.