NAME OF ORGANISATION
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
OVERVIEW
The FMS (rail, sea and air component) currently and historically produces quarterly estimates of freight movements by rail, air and sea. Movements are classified by origin, destination, commodity and method (solid bulk, other bulk (liquid/gas), containerised or other) and whether the goods are dangerous and /or refrigerated.
The proposed revised FMS (rail, sea and air component) will produce annual estimates of freight movements similar to those in publication 9217.0. Statistics will be published on an annual basis for all components of the FMS.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the collection is to provide reliable freight statistics at a useful level of detail.
Freight statistics are used by:
- Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics;
- Department of Transport and Communications;
- All State transport departments, rail and port authorities;
- State development departments;
- Transport associations and major transport companies; and
- Academic institutions
for the following purposes:
- Modelling Australia's transport industry at Australia, State and regional levels;
- State and Commonwealth policy development on roads, railways and ports; and
- State and Commonwealth policy development on the transport industry in general.
SCOPE
Rail, Sea and Air components of the FMS
All providers - both private operators and public authorities. A census is conducted.
All rail, sea and air movements within Australia and its Territories. International freight moving into or out of Australia or in transit is excluded.
Freight moved by defence forces is excluded.
DATA DETAIL
Conceptual framework
The FMS is intended to provide a measure of freight moved by road, rail, sea and air within Australia.
Main outputs
Data on mode, commodity, method, origin and destination similar to that previously published in Cat No 9217.0.
Classifications
Mode - road, rail, sea and air.
Commodity - currently using selected articles (21 items) from the Australian Transport Freight Commodity Classification (ATFCC) and whether these goods are catergoried as dangerous.
Origin - Statistical Division (SD) level.
Destination - Statistical Division (SD) level.
Method - solid/dry bulk, other bulk (liquid/gas), containerised or other and whether these methods incorporate refrigeration.
Other concepts (summary)
GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
ACT
Statistical Division
Statistical Subdivision
Comments and/or Other Regions
Due to confidentiality restrictions data is generally not available below the Statistical Division level.
COLLECTION FREQUENCY
Annually
Frequency comments
Rail, sea and air data were previously collected quarterly and available as a special data service. For the period April 2000 to March 2001 data will be published annually together with Road data. Collection of the rail, sea and air data is expected to cease after March 2001; future collection will be subject to user funding.
COLLECTION HISTORY
February 1992 Investigation of user requirements.
Sept '92 - May '93 Pilot testing of FMS '94.
January 1994 Report recommending pilot test methodology produced.
June '94 - Dec '95 FMS '94 (publication 9217.0).
June '95 - Dec '95 Sample redesign for FMS '96 (stratification and scope altered).
Mar '96 - Jun '96 FMS '96 (publication 9217.0).
Mar '96 - Jun '96 Methodological review of FMS '96 conducted.
July 1996 Road component of FMS '96 suspended due to data quality problems - rail, sea and air to continue.
Aug '96 - Dec '98 Redevelopment investigation for road component.
Jan 99 - Dec 99 Review of business rules and definitions
DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes
Data availability comments
Data on all modes of freight (road, rail, sea and air) will be published for the year ending 31 March 2001 in Cat. No. 9220.0.
DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
10/01/2005 05:30 PM
