2023.0.30.001 - Census of Population and Housing: CENSUS KEYDATA, Australia, 1996  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/08/1997   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

Census keydata CD-ROM presents census information


An Australian Bureau of Statistics CD-ROM product released today enables users to personally unlock, on demand, information from the 1996 Census, the major results of which were released in July.

Census KeyData uses encryption/decryption technology to allow flexible access to Census data which can then be used for the widespread research and planning possible with the Census.

Besides Estimated Resident Population figures, Census KeyData contains information about Australia from the national to neighbourhood level. Such detail is especially useful to meet planning needs of governments, regional authorities and anyone requiring small area data.

A variety of data output formats allows import of decrypted data directly into a wide range of spreadsheets and analytical software, including Excel, Lotus 123, IRDB and CDATA96. The shapes boundary data can be used with MapInfo based software products such as the mapping package contained in Excel 7 and MapInfo Desktop. CPROFILE software is provided free to enable users to view, manipulate and print data tables or export selected data items for use with their own software.

Once a person has Census KeyData installed, they fax or mail their order to the ABS and, for a fee, receive a decryption key to enable them access to the data. The greater the level of access required, the more the access fee. For convenience, free access is provided to the Census Dictionary, Directory of Census Statistics, ABS Catalogue of Publications and Products, product demonstrations and sample data.

KeyData will be delivered in three stages, with Release 1 taking place today. It is available from ABS bookshops.

Noting that free access to a range of reference material is available on the CD-ROM, Media who wish to receive a copy of the KeyData CD-ROM (free) should phone:

Ana Goodwin
Administrative Officer
Media and Public Relations Unit
(02) 6252 6728, Fax a request to (02) 6252 8002, or
Email a.goodwin@abs.gov.au.