1392.0 - Statistical News SA, Mar 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/03/2010   
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STATISTICAL NEWS AND RELEASES


ABS NEWS AND RELEASES

SA Stats (cat. no. 1345.4)

SA Stats provides an overview of the state's population and economy. This publication is updated on a monthly basis, with most releases also containing a feature article on socio-economic and environmental issues of interest.

SA Stats, February 2010

SA Stats provides an overview of the South Australian population and economy. This month's findings include:

  • SA's unemployment rate is still below the national level.
  • Retail turnover fell 3.7% in December 2009.
  • Dwelling unit approvals rose for the fifth consecutive month.
  • House prices in Adelaide are growing at a slower rate than all other capitals.
  • First home buyers in SA borrow, on average, 12% more than non-first home buyers.
  • Wine accounted for 16% of SA's exports in December 2009.

Also included in this month's publication is an informative article about the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) which will replace the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) on July 1, 2011.

SA Stats, January 2010

This month's SA Stats includes an article which looks at the cost of building a house in Adelaide. Home ownership remains part of the great Australian dream but rising property prices are perceived as one of the main components making that dream harder to realise. Data from the ABS publications House Price Index: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0) and Building Activity Australia (cat. no. 8752.0) are analysed to assess the changes in the cost of building a house in Adelaide.

SA Stats, December 2009

This issue of SA Stats includes an article on international students in South Australia. The number of international students studying in South Australia has increased dramatically in recent times. This article looks at the number of international student enrolments in South Australia, and presents data on where the students have come from. The article examines the type of education being undertaken, and also looks at the economic contribution these students are making to the economy.
New edition of Australian Social Trends

The ABS released the latest edition of Australian Social Trends (cat. no. 4102.0) on 16 March 2010. The publication draws together a wide range of statistics from the ABS and other official sources to provide a picture of Australian society and how it is changing over time.

The latest edition features five articles:
  • The labour market during recent economic downturns.
      The recent global financial crisis triggered a period of slowing economic growth in Australia. This article will look at how the labour market was affected during this time and compare this to previous economic downturns.
  • Health and socioeconomic disadvantage.
      Previous analysis has shown that disadvantaged Australians have higher levels of disease risk factors and lower use of preventative health services than those who experience socioeconomic advantage. This article examines differences in indicators of health among Australians according to the relative level of socioeconomic disadvantage of where they live.
  • Are young people learning or earning?
      Increasing education participation and improving transition to work outcomes for young Australians are key objectives of the Council of Australian Governments 2009 National Partnership Agreement on Youth Attainment. This article looks at the levels of engagement of young people in study and work including the transitions of recent school leavers.
      In South Australia, it was found that approximately 21% of young people aged 15-24 years were not fully engaged (in either study or work). This was above the national average of 19%.
  • Income support among people of working age.
      In contrast to earlier decades, the period since 1996 has seen a fall in the number of working age people receiving income support. This article examines the changes that have driven the decline and profiles the recipients of income support.
  • Repeat imprisonment.
      The imprisonment rate has increased steadily over the last decade. This article looks at prisoners who have been released from prison and then reimprisoned within 10 years of their release.
      Within 10 years of release, around 35% of prisoners in South Australia were reimprisoned, compared with the national average of 39%.


Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2008-09 (cat. no. 5220.0)

According to Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2008-09 (Reissue), Australia recorded annual growth in Gross Domestic Product of 1.1%, a level which was exceeded by the smaller states and territories. For example, SA recorded annual growth in Gross State Product (GSP) of 1.4%, as did Tasmania and the ACT. Most notably, NT recorded annual GSP growth of 2.6%.

Other findings include:
  • All States contributed positively to the growth in Australia's Domestic Final Demand (2.1% overall) in 2008-09. For example, SA contributed 2.6% in annual growth in State Final Demand terms.
  • For SA, the main industries contributing to the 2008-09 gross value added growth (in GSP) were Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Retail Trade and Health Care and Social Assistance.
  • Public gross fixed capital formation increased by 15.6% in SA over 2008-09 compared with an increase of 8.7% for Australia.

More details are available in Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2008-09 (cat. no. 5220.0).
Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2008-09 (cat. no. 8146.0)

Approximately two thirds (66%) of SA households had internet access in 2008-09, according to Household Use of Information Technology Australia, 2008-09. This increased from half of SA households in 2004-05. Seventy two percent of Australian households had internet access in 2008-09.

Other findings include:
  • As of June 2009, over half of SA households (54%) had broadband internet access. This was the second lowest proportion of all states and territories, after Tasmania, with just under half. Nearly two thirds of Australian households had broadband access.
  • Of households with internet access in SA, 17% had dial up, the greatest proportion of all states and territories after Tasmania (21%).
  • Three quarters of SA households had access to a home computer, up from 41% in 1998.
  • Frequency of use of the internet at home was lower in SA compared to Australia. Of those who accessed the internet at home, 51% in SA did so every day, compared to 58% in Australia.
  • Of children in SA aged 5 to 14 years, 69% accessed the internet from home compared to 73% for Australia. South Australian children's most common type of internet activities at home were educational activities (87%) and playing online games (67%).


NON ABS NEWS

SA-NT Demonstration Projects

SA-NT Datalink provides a data linkage service to support research, policy development, service planning and evaluation. Five demonstration projects are currently being undertaken to highlight the potential for using data linkage to provide information about health, education, social and development outcomes. These projects will identify what is required to effectively link various data sources and build capability for ongoing policy relevant research.