MICRODATA USER OBLIGATIONS

This section provides users with information about their responsibilities when accessing microdata, including:
Microdata conditions of use
Responsible Officer Undertaking
Individual Undertaking
Individuals belonging to more than one organisation
Leaving your organisation
Licence provisions, copyright and attribution
ABS liability regarding microdata

Microdata conditions of use

Important points to remember when accessing and using ABS microdata:

• keep passwords for ABS systems secure
• use microdata only for statistical purposes
• do not attempt to identify persons or organisations to which the information relates
• do not try to avoid, override or otherwise circumvent the mode of access controls in place by the ABS
• do not attempt to match unit record data with any other list, database or repository of persons or organisations
• do not provide microdata to anyone without the approval of the ABS
• where access to ABS microdata is provided remotely, you must:
  a. access the microdata in a work or private location
  b. protect the screen from oversight by other people, and
  c. use a secure internet connection
• talk to the ABS if you any questions or concerns about your responsibilities, the microdata or the systems

For a complete list of your obligations when accessing microdata, see:

• this user guide (Responsible Use of ABS Microdata User Guide)
• the Responsible Officer Undertaking in the Downloads tab of this user guide
• the Individual Undertaking and Declaration of Compliance in the Downloads tab of this user guide
• the Conditions of use you agreed to when registering in the Registration Centre
• any other directions in relation to microdata provided to you by the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Responsible officer undertaking

Before access to microdata can be granted by the ABS, a Responsible Officer in an Organisation must submit a signed Undertaking. Individual users are bound by the Undertaking signed by their organisation’s Responsible Officer, so it is important that you read and understand the Undertaking which your Responsible Officer has agreed to on your behalf.

Individual undertaking

An Individual Undertaking is required when accessing microdata in the DataLab environment. The ABS will let you know if an Individual Undertaking or any other documentation is required for other modes of microdata access.

Individuals belonging to more than one organisation

Individuals belonging to multiple organisations may be approved to access microdata in each organisation. Separate approval must be sought from the ABS for microdata product access under each organisation, as access is granted at an organisational level as well as an individual level.

Leaving your organisation

Once you leave an organisation, you must not access microdata for which you were approved under that organisation. You must let your Contact Officer or the ABS know you when you are no longer a member of your organisation so that your access to microdata can be removed. You also need to delete, destroy or return to your Contact Officer any microdata in your possession.

Licence provisions, copyright and attribution

Intellectual Property rights in microdata, including copyright, are owned by the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the ABS. Copyright notices appearing on microdata products or on information displayed or printed by the microdata product must not be removed.

Microdata and its output are subject to full Copyright terms. Organisations using microdata are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence by the ABS that allows authorised users to use microdata for statistical or research purposes in accordance with the Undertaking signed by the Responsible Officer of the organisation.

TableBuilder output is licensed under Creative Commons licensing, allowing users to share and transform the material for any purpose.

Publication of data and analysis using ABS microdata or TableBuilder products must attribute ABS as the source of the data.

Where researchers' use of ABS microdata and TableBuilder data requires citation. See Guide to citing ABS sources for advice. You have an opportunity to provide a link to your published research using microdata. Email a link to your published research to microdata.access@abs.gov.au.

ABS liability regarding microdata

While the ABS has taken great care to ensure that microdata is as correct and accurate as possible, the ABS does not guarantee, or accept any legal liability arising from, or connected to, the use of any material contained within, or derived from microdata. Except to the extent that liability may not be lawfully excluded, the ABS:

1. makes no warranty as to the suitability or fitness of the microdata for a particular purpose, quality, accuracy or merchantability, and
2. accepts no liability arising from the use of the microdata.

Further information is provided in the ABS Disclaimer notice.