1300.1.55.001 - Statistics News NSW, Dec 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/12/2006   
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MESSAGE FROM THE NSW REGIONAL DIRECTOR - IAN EWING

Image: Ian Ewing, Regional Director, ABS NSW

Welcome to the last issue of Statistics News, NSW for 2006.

November was an important month for the state of NSW with the launch of the NSW State Plan. Developed through a process of consultation with Government, community, industry and stakeholder groups, the NSW State Plan identifies specific and measurable priorities for Government action over the next 10 years. ABS NSW are working with the NSW Premier's department and other state agencies in developing the indicators needed to assess progress in achieving the plan's goals.

In recognition of the increasing need for information about small areas, particularly for Government policy development and service delivery, November also saw the release of the first free issue of NSW Regional Statistics. Previously available only as a consultancy service, NSW Regional Statistics presents 2005 data for a range of social and economic topics for each Local Government Area in NSW. The data will be updated regularly on the ABS web site, and new data collections from both the ABS and other sources will be included as they become available.

The increased availability of administrative and survey data is one of the key reasons for the increased range of topics covered by products such as NSW Regional Statistics and NSW in Focus, and I'd like to thank NSW Government agencies for providing the ABS with data for these products. One aspect of our role in ABS NSW is to identify and research potential new sources of data about our State, and any information about new or existing data collections is always welcome.

The environment is becoming more prominent as a topic of public concern and debate, and this issue of Statistics News, NSW highlights some recent ABS publications focussing on environmental issues. Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends aims to inform decision-making, research and discussion on environmental conditions in Australia, by drawing together statistics from both ABS and other official sources. The Water Account, Australia presents information on the supply and use of water in the Australian economy.

I was pleased by the overwhelming response to the Census information sessions presented during November, and would like to thank our NSW clients for their ongoing interest in the Census. I encourage Census users to start thinking about the questions they would like to see included in the 2011 Census, as submissions close early in 2008.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy time over the holiday period.

Contact us here at ABS NSW. We offer a range of services to help you make informed decisions.