Foreword

The Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC, the Council) has a key role in assisting the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to enhance its effectiveness as a public institution. The ABS is Australia’s national statistical agency and the ABS’ purpose is to inform Australia’s important decisions by delivering relevant, trusted and objective data, statistics and insights.

Better decisions based on better data make for improvement in the welfare of all Australians.

The Council advises the ABS and it's Minister on improving Australia’s statistical services and draws together perspectives from State and Territory governments, public sector agencies and representatives of private industry and academia. This assists the ABS to set priorities among the competing demands for its services, and to ensure that its decisions are accountable to major users of public data.

The Council met three times during 2022-23. The Council’s meetings helped to build a mutual understanding of challenges faced around Australia and in different sectors of the economy, and the role of statistics in addressing them.

This annual report summarises ASAC’s activities over the past year and identifies future areas of focus. I thank Council members for their active engagement with the business of the Council at each meeting. On behalf of the Council, I would also like to thank members of the ASAC Secretariat for their logistical and technical support of the Council’s affairs.

Professor Ian Harper AO
Chairperson