New Media number for Journalists : ABS, 2009

	MEDIA RELEASE
March 26, 2009		17/2009

A new telephone number to assist media with gaining improved access to ABS spokespeople and subject matter experts has been established by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

ABS Corporate Communications director Richard Burgess said " Media agencies should continue to utilise the ABS's National Information and Referral Service for general data queries, however the new media number will allow journalists access to ABS spokespeople via our communications team."

Journalists and media agencies are encouraged to keep this number stored in mobile phones and posted in newsrooms for ease of access.

The new media line for arranging interviews with ABS spokespeople is 1300 175 070. This number will be placed in the contacts field in all future ABS media releases.

The ABS would also like to take this opportunity to remind media agencies that any ABS data used in articles/stories are required to be attributed to either the Australian Bureau of Statistics or the ABS.

Media Contacts and Interviews:

ABS Corporate Communications Team : 1300 175 070

General ABS Data queries:

ABS National Information and Referral Service (NIRS) : 1300 135 070