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Free statistics on the ABS website

All statistics within www.abs.gov.au can be accessed free of charge. The new policy was announced by the Treasurer, The Hon. Peter Costello MP as an ABS Centenary tribute to the people of Australia in December 2005.

In announcing free statistics, the Treasurer said the Government recognised the importance of access to official statistics in providing a reliable and up-to-date view of Australian society, the economy and the environment. (Full speech)

He said this initiative was in line with the Government's Backing Australia's Ability policy, and will ensure decision-makers within the Australian Government and state/territory governments, business and the community have readily available statistical information with which to make informed decisions.

The change means that all publications, spreadsheets and Census data on the ABS web site are now available free to any member of the public with Internet access.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What information will be free from the ABS web site?
2. How do I know which spreadsheets and data cubes are free?
3. How do I access these free ABS publications?
4. Who can help me if I need assistance to find material on the web site?
5. What will happen to the AusStats service now that free publications on the web have been introduced?
6. What should I do with my current AusStats subscription?
7. I currently subscribe to publications from the ABS. What will happen to my subscriptions now that publications are free on the web?
8. Do any subscriptions services remain on offer from the ABS?
9. How do I subscribe to the free email notification service?
10. What if I'd prefer to get a hard copy of my ABS publications?
11. Why do I still have to pay for some of the ABS' products?
12. Will the fact that publications are free affect the quality of the statistics published by the ABS?


FAQs


1. What information will be free from the ABS web site?
You can download an electronic copy of any post-1998 ABS publication, free of charge. Please note however, that some publications may go as far back as 1907. In addition, all ABS spreadsheets and data cubes on the web site will be available to download free of charge.

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2. How do I know which spreadsheets and data cubes are free?
All ABS spreadsheets and data cubes on the web site will be free.

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3. How do I access free ABS data?
Free ABS data can be downloaded directly from the ABS web site.

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4. Who can help me if I need assistance to find material on the web site?
The National Information and Referral Service (NIRS) at the ABS, who can be contacted on 1300 135 070.


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5. What will happen to the AusStats service now that all data on the ABS web site is free?
AusStats will discontinue as a subscription service. All unused subscriptions will be refunded and refunds will be processed in January 2006. To find out more, contact the ABS on 1300 135 070 or email client.services@abs.gov.au.

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6. What should I do with my current AusStats subscription?
A number of AusStats subscribers with subscriptions ending near the end of 2005 have already been contacted regarding their current AusStats Subscription Agreement. We expect that a number of additional subscribers will not reach their download-value-limit before the expiration of their subscription. If you do not reach your download value limit you will receive a refund based on the unused portion of your respective download-value-limits.

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7. I previously subscribed to publications from the ABS. What has happened to my subscriptions now that publications are free on the web?
  • Hard copy publication subscriptions were phased out from 1 July 2005;
  • Existing hard copy subscriptions are being allowed to run their normal course, but no new subscriptions nor renewals are being accepted after 1 July 2005; and
  • Email-based delivery of publication subscriptions ceased on 1 July 2005.

Subscribers can instead use the ABS free email notification service, which advises when their statistical and other releases of choice are available for downloading from the ABS web site.

You can choose to cancel your existing hard copy subscriptions, for a full refund of the unused portion, if you would prefer to download the publications yourself for free from the ABS web site.

For further information, please contact Subscription Services on 1300 366 323 or email subscriptions@abs.gov.au.

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8. Do any subscriptions services remain on offer from the ABS?
The ABS free email notification service is the only remaining subscription service for standard ABS publications. This service notifies you by email when your nominated publications are released, and you will receive links to our web site so that you can download them, for free, shortly after 11.30 am on their day of release. You can alter your subscription details, or unsubscribe to the service, at any time.

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9. How do I subscribe to the free email notification service?
You can subscribe by clicking the link to email notification service.

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10. What if I'd prefer to get a hard copy of my ABS publications?
You can print a copy yourself, free of charge.

A select List of Printed Publications will be available for purchase. To order, please refer to how to Purchase ABS Publications or call the ABS on 1300 135 070.

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11. Why do I still have to pay for some ABS products?
The ABS makes the main findings of statistical collections and reports on matters of public interest free to the community via the media, public libraries and the internet. All web based data is available as described above. However, people who require their own on-paper copies of ABS publications, information on CD-ROM, or information more detailed than that published, will be charged under the ABS Pricing policy. Please note that services such as customised information consultancies and training will still continue to be charged for.

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12. Will the fact that ABS statistics are free affect their quality?
No current production and quality assurance processes will be unaffected.

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For further information, please contact the ABS National Information and Referral Service (NIRS) on 1300 135 070 or email client.services@abs.gov.au.

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