1304.5 - Stats Talk WA (Newsletter), Dec 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/01/2005   
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Statistical Policy Committee

A two-tiered committee structure facilitates statistical coordination in Western Australia. It consists of a Statistical Policy Committee (SPC) and two consultative groups. These groups are the Economic Statistics Consultative Group and Social Statistics Consultative Group.

The SPC meets approximately four times a year and the role of the SPC is to:

  • Provide the State representative on the Australian Statistical Advisory Committee (ASAC) and the Regional Director, Western Australia, ABS, with information on the State Government's overall policy priority areas and resulting statistical priorities;
  • Ensure processes are in place to assess the State Government's statistical needs and priorities;
  • Improve the statistical basis of informed decision making by the State Government in a cost effective way;
  • Identify and develop the State's own statistical data sources; and
  • Recommend priorities for the allocation of ABS resources that are specifically available to meet State Government statistical needs and identify capacity to meet these needs.

Each year the ABS WA completes the
Western Australian Statistical Priorities Paper which outlines the major unmet, current and new statistical needs. This paper was drafted in November. The issues were identified via a program of visits to WA agencies throughout 2004. The statistical needs of agencies continues to be focussed on sustainable development, with improvement in the State's environmental, social and economic well-being also a priority. Social and environmental policies appear likely to drive demand for statistics over the coming years.

Areas identified as statistical priorities include:
  • Childcare
  • Disabilities
  • Indigenous
  • Job mobility
  • Criminal behaviour
  • Telecommunications
  • Environment and energy
  • Agriculture
  • Regional and smaller area data

The SPC has recently been expanded and will now also coordinate the
National Statistical Service initiative in WA. Separate meetings will be convened for that purpose.

The current members of the SPC are:
  • David Smith (Chair), Director Economic & Revenue Policy, Dept of Treasury & Finance
  • Hew Mortlock, Asst Director Economic & Revenue Policy, Dept of Treasury & Finance
  • Graham Barrett, Dept of Indigenous Affairs
  • Dr Jim Codde (Chair, SSCG), Dept of Health
  • Ian Hafekost (Chair, ESCG), Dept of Housing & Works
  • Shawn Boyle, Director Social Policy Unit, Dept of Premier & Cabinet
  • Judy Hogben, Executive Director, Office for Senior's Interests and Volunteering
  • Dr Marnie Leybourne, acting Director, WA Land Information Service
  • Graham Harnwell, acting Director, WA Police Service
  • Julie Rosenberg, Manager, Performance Review & Statistics, Dept of Justice
  • Erwin Swasbrook, Manager, Research, Dept for Planning and Infrastructure
  • John Harris, Principal Policy & Planning Officer, Dept of Education & Training
  • Alan Hubbard, Regional Director, ABS WA