WHAT'S NEW AT ABS ...


Australian social trends 2008
Australian statistical geography standard
National regional profile 2002-2006
Mining operations, Australia, 2006-07
Cultural funding by government, Australia, 2006-07
Changes to the ABS survey program
ABS release information
Queensland theme page


AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL TRENDS 2008

Australian Social Trends 2008 (cat. no. 4102.0) was released 23 July 2008. It is the 15th edition of an annual series that presents information on contemporary social issues and areas of public policy concern. By drawing on a wide range of ABS statistics, and statistics from other official sources, Australian Social Trends describes aspects of Australian society, and how these are changing over time. It is designed to assist and encourage informed decision-making, and to be of value to a wide audience including the public, those engaged in research, journalism, marketing, teaching and social policy, as well as anyone interested in how we live today and how we've changed over recent decades.

The material presented in Australian Social Trends is organised into nine chapters. As in previous editions, each of the first seven chapters represents a major area of social interest (i.e. population, family and community, health, education and training, work, economic resources, and housing), with an eighth chapter covering other areas of interest (e.g. transport and communication). The ninth chapter provides international comparisons for a number of these areas, comparing Australia with major OECD countries, our closest neighbours, and our trading partners.

Following the release of 2006 Census data, most chapters in this edition contain at least one article with a regional focus. Topics covered by these articles include towns of the mineral boom, people with a need for assistance, and participation in education. The ABS has presented some articles which expand and update analysis of topics examined in previous editions. For example, in this edition, such articles cover voluntary work, trade union membership and Internet access. There are also articles on topics of interest not previously examined, such as families with a child with a disability, and complementary therapies. The ABS has now published 453 articles across all 15 editions of Australian Social Trends. These articles are listed in the cumulative index in the publication.

The publication also includes national and state summary tables which present key social indicators in each of the seven major areas of social concern. Each set of tables is accompanied by a summary of key points and graphs for selected indicators.

Some of the selected results for Queensland include:

Internet connections

• In 2006-07, just under two-thirds (65%) of Queensland homes had access to the Internet, with broadband out-numbering dial-up connections by a factor of almost two-to-one.

Risk taking

• In 2004-05, almost one in five (19%) people in Queensland aged 18-24 years drank to risky or high risky levels, compared with 15% nationally.

First home buyers

• In 2005-06, the average mortgage of first home buyers in Queensland was around $216,000. This was lower than the figure in NSW and the ACT ($250,000), but higher than all other states and territories, including Victoria ($200,000).

Public transport

• In 2006, 18% of people in Brisbane used public transport to get to work or study, up from 14% in 1996. Around three-quarters of people travelled by private vehicle, while 5% either walked or rode a bike.

Education

• More people in Queensland now have qualifications such as a degree, diploma or certificate (58% of all people aged 25-64 years in 2007, up from 43% in 1997).

Volunteers

• Around one in four (25%) women in Queensland in 2006 were regular volunteers. Women were more likely than men to volunteer (18%).

AUSTRALIAN STATISTICAL GEOGRAPHY STANDARD

The Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) is used for the collection and dissemination of geographically classified statistics. The ASGC has formed the foundation of the statistical geography used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) since 1984.

The ABS intends to replace the current ASGC with the new Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) through an implementation strategy commencing in 2011.

The ASGS will be based upon mesh blocks creating more stable and consistent units than the ASGC. It will be the new basis for the publication of the complete range of ABS spatial statistics. The ASGS will become the essential reference for understanding and interpreting the geographical context of ABS statistics. The ABS anticipates that it will be widely adopted outside the ABS to facilitate the cross comparison of spatial statistics.

The information paper, Outcome From The Review Of The Australian Standard Geographical Classification (cat. no. 1216.0.55.002), advises stakeholders of the ABS' decision to adopt the ASGS as outlined in the earlier information paper The Review of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (cat. no. 1216.0.55.001).

This later paper addresses stakeholder concerns, clarifies areas of misunderstanding and describes changes which will be made to the original proposal.

The design of the ASGS will commence in the second half of 2008 and will involve significant stakeholder consultation. The ASGS will become available in late 2010 and will be effective from 1 July 2011.
NATIONAL REGIONAL PROFILE 2002-2006

The National Regional Profile 2002-2006 (cat. no. 1379.0.55.001) was released 28 July 2008. The National Regional Profile (NRP) presents, for all Australia, a range of data for various types of small regions. Data are available for Local Government Areas, Statistical Local Areas and other larger geographies.

The NRP is intended for users interested in the characteristics of regions and in comparing regions across Australia. Data are presented as a five year time series, where available. These data are organised under the broad topics of Economy, Population/people, Industry, and Environment and energy. Data are available in web pages, Excel spreadsheets, and SuperTABLE data cubes. NRP users are able to access data for single or multiple regions and can search by region name or by selecting regions by map.

The NRP is accessed from the NRP Welcome Page.
MINING OPERATIONS, AUSTRALIA, 2006-07

Mining Operations, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8415.0) was released 22 July 2008.

In 2006-07, Queensland's share of Australian economic aggregates relating to Selected mining were 28% of Employment at the end of June, 31% of Wages and salaries and 26% of Sales and services income. In Queensland, in 2006-07, the average wage and salary per person employed in Selected mining was $117,000.

Between 2005-06 and 2006-07, estimates of most of the four key variables increased in most jurisdictions. The largest increases in dollar terms occurred in Western Australia and Queensland, reflecting the size and importance of Metal ore mining and Coal mining in those states. Similarly, these states also contributed the largest increases in employment in Selected mining.

The publication presents national estimates, for the mining industry, of employment at 30 June 2007 and major economic and financial aggregates: income and expenditure; various profit measures; industry value added; capital expenditure, and components of these, as well as performance measures (ratios) derived from them. State and territory estimates of major variables (for the industry excluding Services to mining) are included.
CULTURAL FUNDING BY GOVERNMENT, AUSTRALIA, 2006-07

Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 4183.0) was released 7 August 2008.

At the state and territory government level, per person funding, which adjusts for the varying populations of Australia's states and territories, reveals that cultural funding per person was significantly higher for the Northern Territory ($326.08) than elsewhere. In the other states and territories, cultural funding per person ranged between $103.29 in Queensland and $187.33 in Tasmania.

The publication contains estimates of Australian public funding for arts and cultural activities, facilities and services for the three years from 2004-05 to 2006-07.
CHANGES TO THE ABS SURVEY PROGRAM

The ABS is facing a tight budget situation in 2008-09, which has led to a range of reductions in the ABS work program. The Australian Statistician, Brian Pink, has outlined a number of strategies to address the situation in the document Changes to the ABS survey program for 2008-09 on the ABS Website. Use the link to see what the implications are for the affected surveys or programs and how to get further information.

Changes to the Labour Force Survey

Detailed information on how the changes will impact on the Labour Force Survey can be accessed from the document above or by going directly to Forthcoming Changes in Labour Force, Australia, Apr 2008 (cat. no. 6202.0).
ABS RELEASE INFORMATION

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website provides the expected release details for all statistical products due for publication in the coming six months.

The web page 'Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months' is revised on the ABS website at the beginning of each month. This six-month forecasting is intended to keep clients informed about products and when they will become available.

All ABS Core Statistical and Other Statistical publications that usually have a catalogue number will be detailed as well as prominent non-statistical publications such as the ABS Annual Report and Australian Statistics Advisory Council Annual Report.

Access 'Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months' from the ABS Home page via 'Future Releases' or use this link.

Information on all ABS product releases can also be accessed from ABS Release Advice. This web page also provides links to Previous Releases, Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months and Main Economic Indicator Releases.
QUEENSLAND THEME PAGE

This page provides access to Queensland statistical information including statistical releases and links to non-ABS sources. A wide range of economic and social statistics is covered.