1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2002   
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Contents >> Introduction

Australia Now - a Statistical Profile provides a comprehensive overview of the economic and social conditions of contemporary Australia, together with their administrative and legislative background. It also describes Australia's government, international relations, defence, geography and climate. Its pages provide sufficient background information to establish a context for the statistics and to help in understanding and interpreting them.

Many of the statistics are derived from the ABS, the official statistical agency. However, a great deal of the information is also contributed by other, mainly government organisations. The official nature of the contributors to these pages ensures a high degree of objectivity and reliability in the picture presented of contemporary Australia.

Finding information

The contents pages at the beginning of Australia Now - a Statistical Profile and preceding each topic provide a guide to the broad subjects covered. The search facility helps in locating information on more specific subjects.

The tables and graphs included under a topic are numbered, and the text is cross-referenced to the table or graph to which it relates.

Further information

While the statistics and descriptive information contained in Australia Now - a Statistical Profile provide a comprehensive overview of Australia, they represent only a small part of the statistics and other information available. Australia Now - a Statistical Profile is mainly a ready and convenient source of reference. Because of the range of topics, it aims at breadth rather than depth of information.

If you need information in greater depth, Australia Now - a Statistical Profile is also a directory to more detailed sources, with the source shown for each statistical table, graph and map. Where the ABS is the source, the title and catalogue number of the relevant publication are provided. For other sources, the name of the organisation is shown, and the publication title where appropriate. Relevant ABS and other publications can be found in the last page for each topic. Another useful source is the ABS Catalogue of Publications and Products (Catalogue Number 1101.0) which shows all current publications and products of the ABS.

In many cases, the ABS can also provide information which is not published or which is compiled from a variety of published and unpublished sources. Information of this kind may be obtained through the Information Consultancy Service. Charges are generally made for such information. Inquiries may be made by contacting the Inquiries Section in the nearest ABS office.

The annual reports of government departments and agencies also provide a valuable source of more detailed information on subjects covered in Australia Now.

In this regard, the bulk of the contents of this edition of Australia Now were finalised before the release of the Administrative Arrangements Order on 26 November 2001 which promulgated new administrative arrangements regarding matters to be dealt with by Commonwealth Departments and legislation administered by their Ministers. That Order affected the matters to be dealt with by five Departments contributing information to and featuring in Australia Now. The information supplied by those Departments related to past performance, and so their former names have been retained in this edition. The next edition will, of course, reflect their new names and responsibilities. The Departments affected (new names in brackets) are:

  • Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (Department of Education, Science and Training)
  • Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations)
  • Department of Health and Aged Care (Department of Health and Ageing)
  • Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs)
  • Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources)

For a variety of reasons, it is not possible for all statistics in Australia Now to relate to the latest or the same year. Readers wishing to obtain or clarify the latest available statistics should contact the relevant source.


Your comments

The ABS will try to keep the balance of the contents of Australia Now - a Statistical Profile in line with the ever-changing nature of Australia. We welcome your comments on the adequacy and balance of the contents of Australia Now - a Statistical Profile. Feedback can be directed back to us using the "Feedback" facility in ABS@.



Australian Bureau of Statistics
Canberra

January, 2002



ABS Office Addresses and Telephone Numbers

National OfficeABS House
45 Benjamin Way
Belconnen ACT 2617

Locked Bag 10
Belconnen ACT 2616

Enquiries (02) 6252 6627
Fax (02) 6207 0282

New South Wales5th Floor
St Andrews House
Sydney Square
Sydney NSW 2000

GPO Box 796
Sydney NSW 2001

Enquiries (02) 9268 4611
Fax (02) 9268 4668

Victoria5th Floor
Commercial Union Tower
485 LaTrobe Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

GPO Box 2796Y
Melbourne VIC 3001

Enquiries (03) 9615 7755
Fax (03) 9615 7798

Queensland18th Floor
313 Adelaide Street
Brisbane QLD 4000

GPO Box 9817
Brisbane QLD 4001

Enquiries (07) 3222 6351
Fax (07) 3222 6283

South Australia7th Floor East
Commonwealth Centre
55 Currie Street
Adelaide SA 5000

GPO Box 2272
Adelaide SA 5001

Enquiries (08) 8237 7400
Fax (08) 8237 7566

Western AustraliaLevel 16
Exchange Plaza
2 The Esplanade
Perth WA 6000

GPO Box K881
Perth WA 6001

Enquiries (08) 9360 5140
Fax (08) 9360 5955

Tasmania200 Collins Street
Hobart TAS 7000

GPO Box 66A
Hobart TAS 7001

Enquiries (03) 6222 5800
Fax (03) 6222 5995

Northern Territory5th Floor, AANT Building
81 Smith St
Darwin 0800

GPO Box 3796
Darwin 0801

Inquiries (08) 8943 2111
Fax (08) 8981 1218

Australian Capital Territory5th Floor, QBE Insurance Building,
33 - 35 Ainslie Ave,
Canberra ACT 2600.

PO Box 10
Belconnen 2616

Inquiries (02) 6252 6627
Fax (02) 6207 0282



EMAIL Addresses
Sales and Inquiries:client.services@abs.gov.au
Subscription Services: 1 300 366 323

Overseas Clients: For international callers, dial the international access code, then 61, then the area code, followed by the local number. For example, if calling Australian Capital Territory Office Inquiries, dial +61 2 6252 6627



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