Coordination
A consistent theme in the high level public submissions was the need for improved coordination and harmonisation between different data collections and collectors. It was suggested that ABS and ABARES work together to explore the options for coordinated and joint data collection, integration and analysis of existing data. Several public submissions suggested that instead of running different surveys, the bureaus should explore avenues for running industry wide surveys in a cost effective manner.
Table 6 shows that ABS, Department of Agriculture including ABARES, State/Territory governments and industry are key producers of agricultural statistical assets, and users rely on the statistical assets they produce. A number of public submissions suggested possible efficiencies if coordination between industry, research and development corporations (RDCs), and government was improved to establish high priority statistical assets; such as an Australian government-led whole of agriculture survey covering a comprehensive list of commodities.
Table 6: Counts of government and industry produced statistical assets that are being used by stakeholders in the NASIS
Producers | Number of statistical assets being used as reported by public submissions | Number of statistical assets being used by Department of Agriculture including ABARES |
Government | Department of Agriculture including ABARES | 9 | 99 |
| ABS | 31 | 16 |
| Other Australian government | 8 | 50 |
| State/Territory government | 22 | 1 |
| Industry | 31 | 11 |
| Other (private) | 8 | - |
| Other (public) | - | 12 |
Note: Other (public) includes international governments, commissions, academic institutions and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
A number of suggestions referred to increased use of existing data being collected for different purposes. For example, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) represents an excellent source of income data and information on capital expenditure on farms. Another suggestion was that state and territory governments and NRM Boards already collect data on land and water use. There is potential for improved coordination so that datasets collected are compatible with and complementary with national collections.
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