1001.0 - Annual Report - ABS Annual Report, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/10/2003   
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Contents >> Section 3 - Performance Information >> Chapter 5 - Performance Information - Outcomes Measures

1: Relevance of ABS output

The ABS directs its efforts to the best interests of the Australian community. To aid this, it ensures that data needed for policy and research purposes are available when required. Good statistical planning, which requires a keen understanding of the current and future needs of users, is essential.

The ABS also recognises that, in order to be relevant to informed decision making, debate, and discussions, its statistics must be timely and relatable to other data. To support this, they are placed in an appropriate statistical framework. The ABS also provides analyses and explanations to help the interpretation of its statistics.

Performance Measure 1.1: Statistical output which meets the needs of key users of economic and social data in terms of:

  • support to decision making
  • demonstrated by a high level of use.

Support to decision making

The ABS provides official statistics across a wide range of economic and social matters, for government, business and the Australian community.

Collections undertaken by the ABS include:
  • the five-yearly Census of Population and Housing
  • monthly and quarterly surveys providing key economic indicators
  • collections from industry and households that provide users with information on specific economic and social issues.

In addition, as part of the national statistical service, the ABS cooperates with other Commonwealth, state and territory agencies to release statistics required by key users which are collected as a by-product of administrative systems.

Apart from the extensive range of existing publications and data which provide support to decision makers on a range of ongoing policy issues, the ABS continues to monitor and anticipate users’ needs in terms of new surveys, statistics, and research. The ABS is assisted in this regard by the Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC) identifying major social, economic, and environmental issues of policy significance over the coming three to five years. This priority list is used as one check on the ABS priorities as identified in the forward work program.

Ensuring ABS outputs provide support to decision making is also achieved by extensive consultation with state/territory governments. Each year a meeting of state/territory government representatives known as the State Statistical Forum is held at the ABS. The objective of the forum is similar to ASAC in that it identifies major policy issues over the coming three to five years. The SSF has a narrower focus with the emphasis particularly on the issues which directly affect the state/territory governments.

The ABS maintains a close relationship with what are termed ‘Lifeline’ and other key Commonwealth clients. These Lifeline and other key Commonwealth clients have a major influence on the ABS’ work program. Some of these clients are also sponsors of user funded surveys which allows the ABS to meet their more narrow or priority needs and to expand the ABS statistical program.

Given the importance of Lifeline and other key Commonwealth clients significant contact is maintained at a variety of levels, in particular at the Senior Executive Service levels. The regular contact provides:
  • an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation between the agencies and the ABS
  • good statistical intelligence on client’s work programs, issues and data needs to help determine ABS work programs and/or develop tailored solutions (e.g. user funded surveys)
  • statistics produced from the administrative systems of client agencies which are of high quality, consistent and timely
  • progress on implementation of National Statistical Service (NSS) objectives.

A number of key decisions were agreed in 2002-03 as a result of the processes outlined above. These are listed under Performance Measure 1.2.

Some of the key areas where the ABS is responding to current and emerging issues and conducting research or new surveys include:
  • state accounts - in response to calls from state/territory governments for better quality state accounts, the ABS is devoting more resources to the analysis of state data, and improving methods and source data
  • ageing statistics - the ABS created a National Ageing Statistics Unit in recognition of the increasing policy focus and discussion at Commonwealth and state/territory levels, and in response to the need for a statistical evidence base to support government policy development related to these specific population groups
  • rural and regional statistics - the ABS is developing an Information Development Plan (IDP) in response to calls from state/territory governments for greater information at the regional level. Once established, the IDP will provide an important guide to statistical development work, including collection activity, use of administrative databanks, and data modelling and analysis for rural and regional statistics
  • energy and greenhouse gas emissions - measures have been developed as a result of increasing demand from government and the community. The ABS dispatched an Energy Use Survey for businesses which will provide state/territory level data on energy supply and use, by fuel type
  • Indigenous statistics - the ABS conducted an Indigenous Social Survey in 2002 after calls for more information on Indigenous statistics to assist with policy development. The survey collects a wide range of socioeconomic information including education, labour force participation, demographic and housing details
  • Crime and Justice - an IDP has been undertaken to clearly understand the policy drivers within the sector, data requirements, data availability and to prioritise data gaps.

An important component of the ABS output strategy has been to support secondary analysis of ABS data through access to Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs). During 2002-03 a new dissemination stream - Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) - was implemented. RADL allows users to access ABS microdata via a secure web arrangement at a more detailed level than that which may be released on CD-ROM versions of CURFs. Extra protection is provided with RADL as with this arrangement the full file is kept within the ABS computing environment. More information on these and other strategies for supporting secondary analysis can be found in Chapter 3 - Access to ABS Microdata.

In 2002-03 the ABS released 170 CURFs, while in its first two months of operation put in place arrangements for 13 organisations to access CURFs via RADL. The number of registered users within the 13 organisations approved to access RADL totalled 57 at 30 June 2003. The majority of analysis has been focused on the 2001 National Health Survey CURF.

Chapters 6 and 7 contain detailed information about the many components of the ABS statistical work program and improvements to the coverage of official statistics.

Demonstrated by a high level of use

The ABS delivers results from all statistical collections, as soon as practicable after the reference period, and makes them available to all users at the same time.

The ABS provides statistics and related information to users via many mechanisms, including:
  • printed publications, available for purchase at ABS bookshops or by request from the ABS national subscription service
  • free access to all published statistics via national, state, university and many public libraries across the nation as part of the ABS Library Extension Program (LEP). Users can also access complete Census Community Profile Series and Classification Counts through the facility known as CLIB2001. CLIB is a census product provided free of charge to LEP-eligible libraries
  • free provision of ABS publications to media organisations recognising that the media is the means by which many Australians find out about official statistics
  • a free national telephone inquiry service for brief information requests
  • free access via the ABS web site to key statistics, summary publications, explanatory and conceptual material on ABS statistics, and a growing number of information directories
  • ABS@ and AusStats subscription services to provide users with ready access to ABS publications and to a range of multi-dimensional datasets in electronic format.

Access to ABS statistical information increased significantly during 2002-03. This is particularly evident in the use of the ABS web site and the web site-based AusStats subscription service. The large increase (40%) in the access to statistics via the ABS web site stems from the ABS’ policy of expanding the range of data available on the web site free of charge and the large range of data from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing, such as basic community profiles becoming available. The AusStats service has also expanded with the media and LEP member libraries granted access to the service.

LEP is a partnership between the ABS and libraries which assists in the provision of ABS information to the community by providing LEP member libraries with free access to published ABS statistics. A recent initiative of the ABS is the provision of free online access to ABS publications on the ABS web site to LEP member libraries. This initiative, known as e-LEP, is an example of ABS’ innovative service provision.

Subscribers to ABS@ have increased to ten with the addition of the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland governments. The service, replicated daily into the Intranets of key client organisations which have paid an annual fee for that service, enables staff in those organisations to access ABS information. The information presented reflects the move from traditional paper-based publications to electronically disseminated information, justifying the resources allocated to further developing and improving this medium in the future.

In the past two years there has been a significant drop in the number of publication subscribers. The main reasons are that many subscribers have been converted to e-LEP and AusStats while others access the data via the ABS web site. Additionally, the ABS subscription service no longer services ad hoc clients or subscribers to irregular publications.
    Table 1: ACCESSES TO SELECTED DISSEMINATION SERVICES
     
     Type of Access
    1999-2000
    2000-01
    2001-02
    2002-03

    Internet Site Accesses
    14,884,419
    20,946,456
    27,659,711
    38,712,367
    AusStats(a) Downloads
    26,795
    225,585
    355,810
    655,782
    ABS@(b) Subscribers
    2
    7
    8
    10
    Internet Inquiry Service Email
    6,114
    7,625
    15,636
    20,036
    National Information & Referral Service Calls completed
    170,000
    120,165
    119,020
    100,197
    Publications(c) Subscribers
    11,101
    11,045
    9,654
    6,257
    Dial-a-Statistic-1900 Calls
    23,300
    15,465
    8,452
    7,853
    CPI Infoline Calls
    13,300
    9,182
    7,333
    8,363
    Library Extension Program Libraries
    516
    516
    515
    515
    Secondary Providers(d) Number
    57
    69
    65
    107

    (a) Service commenced in April 2000.
    (b) Relates to total number of organisations using the service (including some state and territory governments).
    (c) Where the number of subscribers is shown this refers to 30 June.
    (d) Various organisations which are licensed to re-sell ABS data. Of these, 38 are secondary distributors who include ABS data on their non-charging web sites.

    The following table shows ABS printed and electronic publication releases by subject matter and frequency for 2001-02 and 2002-03. The fall in the number of printed publication releases more than offset the rise in electronic releases, leading to an overall decrease in publication releases. Of the 776 publication releases in 2002-03, 218 were only released in electronic version.

    Despite the overall drop in publication titles in 2002-03 there was a rise in the population and migration releases due to the reporting of the Census of Population and Housing statistics.

    Table 2: ABS RELEASES(a) CLASSIFIED BY SUBJECT MATTER AND FREQUENCY,
    2001-02 AND 2002-03 (number)

    Subject Matter/Year
    Annual
    Quarterly
    Monthly
    Other
    Total

    Economic and Finance Releases      
    2001-02
    13
    54
    60
    8
    135
    2002-03
    17
    42
    61
    3
    123
    Industry Releases      
    2001-02
    27
    123
    80
    29
    259
    2002-03
    12
    121
    69
    22
    224
    Population and Migration Releases      
    2001-02
    21
    5
    14
    27
    67
    2002-03
    43
    4
    18
    93
    158
    Labour Releases      
    2001-02
    5
    45
    60
    13
    123
    2002-03
    9
    8
    57
    12
    116
    Social Analysis Releases      
    2001-02
    12
    4
    0
    12
    28
    2002-03
    12
    4
    0
    28
    44
    Other General Releases      
    2001-02
    36
    19
    79
    116
    250
    2002-03
    30
    24
    42
    15
    111
    Total      
    2001-02
    114
    250
    293
    205
    862
    2002-03
    123
    203
    247
    173
    776

    (a) Includes catalogued publications and other products, but excludes reprints and corrigenda.


    The ABS provides free access to much of its data, including Main Features, Year Book Australia, Australian Social Trends and Statistical Concepts Library, through the ABS web site. Free access is also provided through public libraries, media releases, media enquiries, and via the distribution of ABS reports to media offices and to members of parliament.

    Table 3 below shows the level of media reporting (by medium) over recent years. Since 2001-02 there has been a significant increase in reporting on radio, television and the Internet and in newspapers and magazines. This increase in activity is predominantly attributed to the conduct of, and subsequent launch of results for, the 2001 Census of Population and Housing.

    Table 3: MEDIA REPORTING, BY PLACEMENT

    Year
    Radio, television and Internet news placements
    Newspaper and
    magazine placements
    News
    releases issued

    1999-2000
    4,600
    6,900
    144
    2000-01
    4,800
    9,300
    383
    2001-02
    7,088
    11,138
    156
    2002-03
    6,774
    13,580
    168


    The ABS maintains a Client Service Charter which describes the relationship between the ABS and users of its products and services. The Charter also provides information on client procedures in the event of a complaint. The ABS received two formal complaints during 2002-03, each in relation to the ABS charging policy. The complaints were both resolved in an amicable manner.

    A number of exercises were conducted by the ABS in 2002-03 to assess the quality of service and to improve the ABS’ understanding of user needs. These included:
    • an online web site survey to collect demographic and behavioural information on, and expectations of, visitors to the ABS web site
    • an analysis of ABS’ Information Consultancy client base to assist in improving the service to clients
    • a key client stocktake which assessed whether the ABS was meeting the needs of key Commonwealth agencies and ways in which these relationships could be enhanced
    • an assessment of the quality of service of the National Information Referral Service, from the perspective of users.

    Performance Measure 1.2: Openness of planning process

    ABS planning processes and decisions are open, relevant and independent. The ABS manages this by maintaining a rolling three-year forward work program, published on the ABS web site, which develops and allocates resources to program outputs. The external dialogue which forms such an important element of the ABS planning process is also critical to ensuring the relevance of ABS statistical output. In establishing its forward work program, the ABS is advised by the following user groups:
    • ASAC
    • State Statistical Forum
    • state government advisory groups
    • various other formal user groups comprising, as relevant, Commonwealth and state government agencies, academics, business organisations, unions, community groups.

    These include:
    • Economic Statistics User Group
    • Education and Training Statistics User Group
    • Methodology Advisory Committee
    • National Crime Statistics Advisory Group
    • National Criminal Courts Statistics Advisory Group
    • Environmental Statistics Advisory Group
    • Rural and Regional Statistics Advisory Group
    • National Advisory Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Information and Data.
    Extensive consultation is also undertaken with key users in the development of specific collections once a decision has been made to include the collection in the forward work program. The information obtained through these forums is supplemented with information gathered from bilateral discussions with key clients, conferences and seminars, outposted statistical officers, and day-to-day contact with clients in the course of disseminating and advising on the use of data.

    Some of the key decisions in 2002-03 arising from the planning process include:
    • the establishment of a National Centre for Environment Statistics which will develop and coordinate statistics in this field of study
    • the development of content and methodology for the National Health Survey 2004-05
    • expanding science and innovation statistical capability, including the development of a survey of innovation by Australian businesses
    • the conduct of a survey to collect business energy supply and consumption by industry and fuel type. The survey was developed in close consultation with major users, including relevant Commonwealth and state government departments and agencies, and the major industry representative bodies
    • a continued commitment to the development of a National Statistical Service.


    2: Integrity in statistical operations

    ABS data, analysis, and interpretations are always objective, and the ABS always publishes its statistics. The ABS decides what to publish, and then does so in ways which explain and inform, without advocating a particular position.

    The ABS statistical system is open. The ABS sets and publishes, in advance, the dates for the release of all its statistics. Pre-embargo access to statistics is strictly controlled under publicly known arrangements. The methodologies and approaches followed are based on sound statistical principles and practices, disseminated widely, and open to scrutiny.

    Performance Measure 2.1: An objective statistical service through:
    • release of reliable/accurate statistics
    • open statistical process
    • trust and cooperation of providers.

    Release of reliable/accurate statistics

    Key measures for demonstrating reliable/accurate statistics include high response rates, low sample errors and the timeliness of ABS statistics. Performance Measure 6.1 demonstrates that the ABS has maintained high response rates in its major economic and social surveys and provided statistics which are subject to low sample errors. In addition, the timeliness of ABS quarterly main economic indicators has improved marginally in 2002-03.

    A key element of this performance indicator is the availability of information to enable users to make their own assessment of quality. Information on these aspects of reliability and accuracy, as well as extensive information on the statistical methods used in collections, are routinely provided in concepts, sources and methods publications, the Explanatory Notes in publications, and are also available at the Statistical Clearing House web site <www.sch.abs.gov.au>.

    Open statistical process

    The Australian Statistician determines which statistics are to be collected, after full discussion with users, clients and the ASAC.

    The ABS continues to maintain close contact with its users through a variety of mechanisms, including:
    • user groups
    • bilateral discussions with key clients
    • standing committees
    • outposted statistical officers
    • conferences and seminars
    • day-to-day contact in the course of disseminating data.

    The ABS Forward Work Program for 2003-04 to 2005-06, published in hard copy and also available on the ABS web site, demonstrates the open statistical process by describing ABS outputs, clients and uses of statistical information, as well as the proposed main medium-term developments over the next three years.

    We are open about the methods we use. The ABS regularly publishes information about new statistical standards, frameworks, concepts, sources and methodologies in a range of information papers and other publications in hard copy, or electronically. Their publication is one element in ensuring that the public are informed about the statistical process. Many of these publications are listed in this Annual Report, including new and updated versions. Details of major revisions to published data are described in the Explanatory Notes of the relevant publication.

    Ongoing research work is often published in professional papers and/or presented to conferences in Australia and abroad. These papers and conferences provide the ABS with valuable peer review and suggestions in the development of new statistical products. A full list of papers presented in 2002-03 is provided at Appendix 16. Some of the topics presented at conferences included:
    • Scanner data in consumer price index research and compilation - presented to the International Association of Official Statistics - Official Statistics and the New Economy
    • Quality adjustment in service industry producer price indexes and Producer price index for computer services - presented to the Voorburg Group Meeting on Service Statistics
    • Standards and resources for statistics on economic disadvantage and income inequality in Australia - presented to the Expert Group on Poverty Statistics (Rio Group)
    • Deriving industry multifactor productivity from the Input-Output system - presented to the International Conference on Input-Output Techniques.
    The ABS continues to advertise all scheduled release dates for publications up to 12 months in advance. Daily press and media releases inform users of publications being released each day. This information is also available on the ABS web site. Release of all publications is subject to a strict embargo policy that ensures impartiality, an essential element of integrity.
    In addition the ABS has contributed its own policies on collection and dissemination of statistics to the United Nations web site on Good Practices in Official Statistics.

    Trust and cooperation of providers

    The Census and Statistics Act 1905 (C&S Act) obliges ABS staff to maintain the secrecy and security of all data provided to the ABS under the C&S Act, and held by the ABS. Staff sign an undertaking of fidelity and secrecy under the terms of the Act to ensure that they are fully aware of the requirements on them. There have been no known cases of an ABS officer breaching the undertaking of fidelity and secrecy.

    The ABS has an enviable reputation for the preservation of the secrecy of reported information, whether it is provided in response to an ABS survey or as administrative data, and for the protection of its statistical data holdings from unauthorised release. The ABS also audits the use of confidentialised unit record files (released under the provisions of clause 7 of the Ministerial Determination) to ensure that the requirements relating to the management and use of the files (which are agreed to by users in a legally binding undertaking), are complied with.

    The efficiency of ABS operations and the quality of the data collected are enhanced through maintaining the trust and cooperation of the providers of data. Integral to that process has been the development of the Business Surveys Charter, careful form design, and close liaison with business and other representative groups. The ABS is conscious however that the needs of users for information must be balanced against the load placed on businesses in providing that information. With this in mind, the ABS has actively and successfully worked to reduce the reporting load on businesses during 2002-03 through a range of methods including the increasing use of administrative data, the cessation of existing collections, and by transferring a number of financial sector collections from the ABS and the Reserve Bank of Australia to a single collection conducted by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. This builds on initiatives undertaken in earlier years. In addition, a range of relevant census outputs have been provided to all small-medium businesses included in ABS collections as a means of maintaining the goodwill between the ABS and its providers and to thank them for their contribution. More information on provider load is detailed in table 15 under Performance Measure 7.4.

    Each year over 100,000 businesses are selected in ABS economic surveys. In 2002-03 a total of 427 businesses wrote to the ABS complaining about respondent load issues. This was down from the 550 complaints received by the ABS in the previous year. Every complaint is responded to in writing by the ABS and, as provided for in the ABS Business Surveys Charter, if the complainant is not happy with the response they can take the matter to the ABS Complaints Review Officer. During 2002-03 no complainants asked the Complaints Review Officer to review their initial complaint.

    Table 4: COMPLAINTS FROM DATA PROVIDERS

     
    1999-2000
    2000-01
    2001-02
    2002-03

    Number of complaints
    665
    748
    550
    427



    3: Appropriate use of statistical standards, frameworks and methodologies

    Performance Measure 3.1: Lead the development of national statistical standards, frameworks and methodologies, and their implementation within the broader Australian statistical system

    An important ABS activity is the development and implementation of national statistical standards, frameworks and methodologies, which are applied, as appropriate, to all ABS statistical collections, including business and household surveys. A number of publications outlining statistical standards were issued during the course of the year.

    The ABS is active in encouraging other Commonwealth and state government agencies to adopt these standards, frameworks and methodologies in their statistical activities.

    Activities and achievements during 2002-03 included:
    • release of Information Paper: Measuring Learning in Australia - A Framework for Education and Training Statistics (cat. no. 4213.0). The framework has been developed to assist relevant agencies to determine their information requirements, and assist in data collection and analysis. It is a joint initiative of the ABS, the Department of Education, Science and Training, the Australian National Training Authority, and all state and territory education and training departments
    • release of an experimental framework for presentation of knowledge-based economy/society indicators in Discussion Paper: Measuring a Knowledge-based Economy and Society - An Australian Framework (cat. no. 1375.0)
    • contribution to work on harmonising government finance statistics standards and Australian accounting standards
    • development of the 2002-03 Agricultural Survey which incorporated recommendations from a review - Framework for Agricultural Statistics in Australia - undertaken by Mr Fred Vogel of the United States of America National Agricultural Statistical Service
    • development of a framework for construction statistics
    • following stakeholder consultation, the development of a framework to measure social capital
    • preparation of a framework for the collection and presentation of information on sexual assault, for release as an ABS Information Paper
    • release of an updated Standard Economic Sector Classifications of Australia (SESCA), 2002 (cat. no. 1218.0). The update was necessary to incorporate the revised model used to create economic statistical units
    • the provision to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) of a significantly updated computer-assisted-coder for use in the coding of businesses on the Australian Business Register according to their industrial activity
    • ongoing support to the ATO in prioritising maintenance activities, through involvement in the Policy Advisory Committee and the ABS/ATO Business Frames and Classifications Working Group
    • consultations with key Commonwealth and state government bodies, along with other stakeholders, resulting in significant progress on the development of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0) (the replacement for the existing classification - ANZSIC 1993).

    ABS’ Methodology Division provides specialist services to meet new and ongoing demands in statistics. The Division has four key roles in ensuring the adoption of professional statistical principles/methods:
    • establishing standards and advising statistical areas on appropriate statistical methods and being our ‘conscience’ on the quality of statistical outputs
    • developing of new statistical products through the confrontation, analysis and synthesis of ABS and non-ABS data
    • participating in reviews of existing statistical collections and methods
    • keeping abreast of professional (methodological) developments through presentation of professional papers and attendance at relevant conferences.

    Supporting the work of the Methodology Division has been the formation of a Methodology Advisory Committee (MAC) consisting of professional statisticians external to the ABS, which meets twice-yearly and provides a forum for peer review of statistical developments in the ABS. Some of the issues considered by MAC in 2002-03 include:
    • reducing the volatility of labour force seasonal adjustment estimates
    • strategies for synthetic estimation in ABS business surveys
    • undercoverage in ABS income surveys.
    Other subject specific advisory boards are also often consulted about methodology issues related to their main focus.

    Performance Measure 3.2: Contribute to the development of key international standards, frameworks and methodologies, and implement them as appropriate

    The ABS is an active member of the international statistical community, contributing significantly to the development of key international statistical standards, frameworks and methodologies. Some of the involvement that the ABS has had during 2002-03 included contributions to:
    • the coordination of the International Comparison Program particularly in the Asia-Pacific region
    • the United Nations Statistical Commission work on the harmonisation of development indicators
    • the development, through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), of statistical standards in relation to research and development statistics, biotechnology statistics, electronic commerce and measuring household and business use of information technology
    • the Technical Sub-Group to the United Nations (UN) Expert Group on International Economic and Social Classifications on the conceptual development of the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC 2007) and the Central Product Classification
      (CPC 2007)
    • international working parties addressing important national accounting framework issues, such as the treatment of software, non financial assets and finance and insurance services
    • the work of the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments Statistics Committee
    • the international Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index manuals
    • discussions on the development of standards for the measurement of disability.

    In addition to contributing to the development of new international standards and frameworks, the ABS has also implemented, or is in the process of implementing, some of these including:
    • the adoption of updated OECD equivalence scales for income distribution statistics
    • the development of a paper proposing the development of a business entries and exits series, drawing on the Eurostat/OECD standards.

    The ABS also provides assistance to statistical agencies in developing nations in implementing the latest international standards. Assistance in 2002-03 included:
    • continuation of a program of technical cooperation with the Indonesian statistical agency, a highlight being a two-week visit to the ABS office in Darwin by staff from seven eastern Indonesian provinces to study statistical operations
    • commencement of a second phase (30 months) of assistance to Thailand to strengthen its macro-economic statistics
    • completion of a 12-month activity to assist the Philippines in improving its national accounts
    • commencement of a three-year program of assistance to Vanuatu to strengthen its National Statistics Office
    • a six-month program to assist East Timor with its consumer price index
    • provision of resource persons for several workshops to assist developing countries in various priority fields of statistics
    • other technical assistance to a number of countries, including China, Fiji, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Tonga and
      Viet Nam.

    ABS officers held prominent positions in a number of international groups during 2002-03. These included:
    • the Australian Statistician as President of the International Statistical Institute
    • the Deputy Australian Statistician, Population Statistics Group, as Chair of the Program Coordinating Committee for the 54th Session of the International Statistical Institute
    • the First Assistant Statistician, Information Management Division, as Vice President of the International Association for Official Statistics
    • the Australian Statistician as Chairperson of the Committee on Statistics of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
    • the Australian Statistician as Chairman of the International Comparison Program Executive Board.


    4: Improving coordination of the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics produced by other official bodies

    Performance Measure 4.1: Statistical Clearing House activity

    The primary objective of the Statistical Clearing House (SCH) is to reduce the reporting burden placed on business providers by Commonwealth agencies (including the ABS). The SCH pays particular attention to eliminating duplication in business surveys, and ensures that surveys conducted follow good statistical methodologies and practices. In view of its statistical expertise and statutory coordination role, the ABS was empowered to administer the clearance process.

    The number of survey reviews at various stages of completion on 30 June 2003, for the 2002-03 financial year, is presented in the table below. Of the 169 completed reviews, all but six have resulted in approval to proceed. However, SCH intervention has resulted in 89 instances of improved survey design and/or reduced provider load.

    Table 5: STATISTICAL CLEARING HOUSE - STATUS OF REVIEW FOR
    STATISTICAL COLLECTIONS, 2002-03

     
    Completed
    In Progress
    In scope -
    not to be reviewed(a)

    ABS
    52
    1
    -
    Other
    117
    11
    20
    Total
    169
    12
    20

    (a) Surveys which impose minimal respondent burden and for which a review would be unlikely to result in a decrease to respondent load, may be considered unnecessary to review, subject to SCH workload.

    For 2002-03, the annualised load imposed on providers by non-ABS surveys reviewed by the SCH has been estimated at 37,335 hours, which represents less than 10% of the total load imposed by the ABS. Annualised load for non-ABS surveys has increased since 1999, largely as a result of the increased number of non-ABS surveys which the ABS has reviewed in this time. This is confirmed in table 6 below which shows that there has been an approximate 50% increase in non-ABS surveys reviewed in 2002-03 alone.

    Table 6: STATISTICAL CLEARING HOUSE - COMPLETED REVIEWS OF
    STATISTICAL COLLECTIONS, 1999-2003

     
    1999-2000
    2000-01
    2001-02
    2002-03

    ABS
    36
    40
    38
    52
    Other
    81
    70
    77
    117
    Total
    117
    110
    115
    169


    The SCH’s Commonwealth Register of Surveys of Businesses (available on the Internet at <www.sch.abs.gov.au>) provides access to information on collections that have already been conducted, including survey design standards and best practices for organisations developing surveys. Metadata relating to 717 surveys is currently disseminated on the SCH web site.

    Performance Measure 4.2: Assisting other official bodies with the integration of administrative and statistical data, including outposting ABS officers and providing training on statistical standards, frameworks and methodologies

    Under section 6(c) of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975, a key function for the ABS is to improve coordination of the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics produced by other official bodies.

    In accordance with the Act, the ABS continues to develop the concept of the National Statistical Service (NSS) by broadening the concept of ABS statistical responsibilities to include not only statistics collected by the ABS, but also data produced or available from other government and non-government agencies. The ABS provides leadership to Commonwealth and state agencies in making better use of their administrative data so that it can provide another source of quality data for statistical purposes. The ABS encourages agencies to adopt a holistic approach to improving the quality of statistics available to users through the application of similar methodologies to administrative and statistical data.

    In pursuing the development of the NSS some of the main activities/achievements in 2002-03 included:
    • the development of detailed material to assist NSS partners in improving practices
    • the development of seminars and training courses to improve skills in survey design and data analysis
    • the development of a NSS web site
    • the release on the ABS web site of the Directory of Statistical Sources, containing summary information on ABS collections
    • broad consultation with other agency heads and discussion through other groups about NSS roles and responsibilities
    • the first meeting of the Commonwealth Statistical Forum to discuss cross cutting NSS issues at the Commonwealth level.

    In addition, the ABS continues to develop the NSS Best Practice Guidelines which will:
    • assist government organisations, at Commonwealth, state/territory and local levels, to exercise their responsibilities with respect to producing and publishing important statistical information that results (or could result) from their own activities
    • promote principles and ‘best practice’ to guide the achievement of high standards in the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics.

    The guidelines will also describe how the ABS can help organisations in these tasks.

    One of the ways the ABS achieves its objective of providing leadership is by developing Information Development Plans (IDPs). The intention of the IDP is to identify in close consultation with key users, the issues to be addressed in a particular field of statistics, the available data (both ABS and non-ABS), the additional data needed and who has carriage for provision of the data. IDPs assist the ABS in improving the quality, coverage and use of statistics examined. Several IDPs are currently underway addressing statistical topics such as education and training, agriculture, tourism, transport, crime and justice and ageing.

    Another of the ways the ABS achieves its objective of providing leadership is by outposting statistical officers to state/territory and Commonwealth government departments and agencies with a view to facilitating the access to, and the understanding of, statistics, and strengthening statistical coordination across these bodies. A total of 36 ABS officers were outposted to Commonwealth and state government agencies during 2002-03. The majority of these outpostings were long-term, however most state/territory agencies with outposted officers usually receive ABS statistical and technical assistance in the form of short-term secondments.

    Table 7: GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS WITH ABS OUTPOSTED OFFICERS, 2002-03

     
    Long-term
    Short-term

    Commonwealth
    10
    1
    State
    10
    12
    Total
    20
    13


    Examples of new partnerships with Commonwealth, state and local government agencies to identify and utilise a greater range of administrative data currently under way are:
    • development and publication of Experimental Estimates, Regional Small Business Statistics, Australia (cat. no. 5675.0) using ATO data
    • assessment of the availability and quality of state and Commonwealth datasets to underpin the New South Wales Families First Outcomes Evaluation Framework
    • assessment of the quality of the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority dataset and data management practices for curriculum assessment in Victoria
    • review and quality assessment of the Western Australia Department of Justice fines enforcement, court proceedings and recorded crime data
    • assessment of the availability and quality of Indigenous identification in key Northern Territory law and justice and education datasets.

    Some of the key achievements in assisting Commonwealth and state/ territory government agencies through statistical consultation, statistical analysis, modelling of existing ABS or client data, and statistical training or seminars for clients and users, during the year included:
    • development of a new strategy for improved dissemination of regional and small area data through the ABS web site. This followed a review of dissemination of this data by the Rural and Regional Statistics National Centre (RRSNC)
    • development of a rural and regional IDP. The IDP will assist in identifying data gaps in the rural and regional statistics work program
    • completion of an IDP on disability, housing and community services for the Australian Capital Territory
    • in partnership with the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), the ABS produced a number of regional profiles relevant to the regions nominated under the DOTARS’ sustainable regions program
    • development of a postcode to local government area population concordance from 1981-2001 for the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics to assist with a major regional income analysis project
    • development of training programs to advance the skills of statistical staff working for official bodies in the areas of data management and managing statistical consultants, as well as conducting training programs on best practice in collecting and using statistical information
    • provision of methodological advice to the Australian Valuation Office in regards to the valuation of the holdings of the National Library of Australia and the Australian National Audit Office, including assistance with the review of the Centrelink Aged Pension Survey
    • development and release on the Victorian Government ABS@ version of a Victorian framework for indicators of regional wellbeing
    • development and assessment of methodologies to estimate Indigenous resident populations for small areas in Western Australia
    • innovation scorecard report which will provide innovation indicators that enable national and international comparison of South Australia’s innovation performance
    • statistical advice and assistance on the development of population issues and policies for Tasmania
    • development of a Domestic Water Use Survey for New South Wales.

    Performance Measure 4.3: Identifying, storing and disseminating statistics from other official bodies

    As part of its commitment to provide an expanded and improved national statistical service, the ABS plays a significant role in identifying, storing and disseminating statistics from other official bodies, particularly those derived from administrative systems.

    The ABS continued its analytical research on Australian Taxation Office individual income tax return data in 2002-03. One of the outputs of this process has been the publication Experimental Estimates, Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia, 1995-96 to 1998-99 (cat. no. 5673.0). The data has been extended to 2001 on ABS electronic services.

    The Integrated Regional Data Base (IRDB), Australia (cat. no. 1353.0), provides clients with access to a broad range of information about Australia’s regions. The Integrated Regional Data Base (IRDB) contains over 15,000 data items of which over 1,900 are sourced from 34 non-ABS statistical series provided by 13 different state and Commonwealth government agencies. Each yearly release includes updates to the economic, social and demographic data. Two of the latest additions are statistics on land use and salinity risk from the National Land and Water Resources Audit.

    In 2002-03 the New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory ABS Regional Offices published updates of Regional Statistics (cat. nos 1362.1-8 series). The publication brings together data from a large range of sources for areas of the state/territory.

    The ABS has established a number of National Centres covering specific areas of statistical activity. The Centres coordinate data collection activities within the ABS and across other public agencies, and provide a statistical service which includes provision of statistical information, training of data providers, advice on statistical standards and development of quality control procedures.


    National Centres have been established for:
    • rural and regional statistics
    • education and training statistics
    • crime and justice statistics
    • culture and recreation statistics
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics.

    A detailed list of achievements and activities of the national centres are provided in section IV, ABS Outputs. However, some of the key achievements of the Centres during 2002-03 included:
    • the release of a framework for education and training statistics
    • the development of IDPs for education and training statistics and rural and regional statistics
    • the publication of nationally comparable offence and sentencing information relating to the criminal jurisdiction of the Higher Courts across Australia in Criminal Courts, Australia (cat. no. 4513.0)
    • the development of a strategy for improved dissemination of regional and small area statistics.

    In 2002 the ABS created two new National Statistical Units, on Ageing and on Children and Youth. The creation of these units was in recognition of the increasing policy focus and discussion at Commonwealth and state/territory levels, and in response to the need for a statistical evidence base to support government policy development related to these specific population groups.

    Much of the work program of both units will be focused, initially, on the presentation and analysis of existing data, from the ageing or children/youth perspective, but there are plans to also use administrative data as a source for future analyses. The Children and Youth National Statistical Unit in particular, plays a supportive role for the Australian Research Alliance on Children and Youth by providing information on this important population group.

    In recent years, the ABS has also produced a range of statistical directories to provide users with information on sources of statistics (both from the public and private sectors) for particular topics. Some of the directories include:
    • agriculture and rural statistics
    • electricity, gas, water and sewerage statistics
    • superannuation related statistics
    • education and training statistics
    • census statistics
    • culture and leisure statistics
    • energy statistics
    • mining statistics.



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