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This paper describes the changes that are taking place to the ABS statistical infrastructure. Most of the changes directly impact on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Business Register. This is the list of businesses from which samples are selected to collect data for economic series. Previously, this register had been maintained by the ABS, using ABS data to update the information relating to businesses, and information from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to identify new businesses and businesses no longer operating. With the introduction of The New Tax System, the ATO created a whole-of-government register of businesses, the Australian Business Register. The ABS is now moving to use the Australian Business Register, together with additional information from the ATO, as the source of the information for the majority of businesses included on the ABS Business Register.

The paper describes the treatment of these impacts in ABS statistical series. It provides details of the reference period for which the changes will first appear, whether the impact of the changes will be published with no alteration to the historical series ('bridged') or the historical series will be adjusted to include the impact ('backcast'), and whether there will be a deleterious effect on movement estimates (and the reference periods over which this will occur).

This paper discusses the treatment in the national accounts of the impacts on the source data. Information is provided on the manner in which new data will be introduced, the resultant impacts on comparisons between partial indicators and the accounts, and the timetable for re-benchmarking the annual series and updating the subannual series.

This paper also outlines future developments that may impact on statistical series.