Breunig, RobertMcCarthy, Owen2020-04-220308-5961http://hdl.handle.net/1885/203369Using a mix of survey data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey and the Household Expenditure Survey, we examine the changing nature of telecommunications expenditure in Australia in the period 2006–2015. We show that it behaves like a core necessity such as food. Households with youth or young adults spend more on telecommunications than other households. The elderly and disadvantaged groups spend less. We propose measures to identify low-income households with relatively high or relatively low expenditure on telecommunications. These measures can be used to identify households that potentially have “telecommunications inadequacy” or “unsustainable telecommunications expenditure”.The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey was initiated and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS), and is managed by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (Melbourne Institute).application/pdfen-AU© 2019 Elsevier Ltd.AustraliaConsumptionTelecommunications expenditureLow-income households2019-07-2210.1016/j.telpol.2019.1018372021-11-28