WHAT'S NEW AT ABS ...


A profile of carers in Australia, 2008
Sport and physical recreation: A statistical overview, Australia, 2008 (edition 2)
Marriages Australia, 2007
Perspectives on regional Australia: Population turnover, 2006
Research and experimental development, businesses, Australia, 2006-07
Australian industry, 2006-07
Agricultural State profile, Queensland, 2006-07
Changes to the ABS survey program
ABS release information
Queensland theme page


A PROFILE OF CARERS IN AUSTRALIA, 2008

A Profile of Carers in Australia, 2008 (cat. no. 4448.0) was released 14 October 2008. This publication provides an overview of the characteristics and activities of people who provide informal assistance to someone with a disability, long-term health condition, or to an older person (aged 60 years and over).

Concern for the well-being of carers, and an appreciation of the value of work they do, has made carers a key social policy concern. Carers enable older people to 'age in place' and people with a disability or long-term illness to remain in the community.

Information in this publication was drawn from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing and from three ABS surveys: the 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC); the 2006 General Social Survey (GSS) and the 2006 Time Use Survey (TUS). The data used to report on a particular topic were drawn from the most appropriate and up-to-date source.

Some results for Queensland include:

• In 2006, 293,700 carers aged 15 years and over were identified by the Census, the majority of whom were female (62%).
• Of these 293,700 carers, 59% were located in major cities and 1% in very remote rural areas.

SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION: A STATISTICAL OVERVIEW, AUSTRALIA, 2008 (EDITION 2)

Sport and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2008 (Edition 2) (cat. no. 4156.0) was released 3 October 2008. Participating in sports and physical recreation and attending sporting events are important features of the Australian lifestyle. This publication presents an overview of the sports and physical recreation sector. It contains information about the number of people who play sports; the most popular sports played; the number of people attending sporting events; the amount people spend on sports and physical recreation; the economic activity of businesses, clubs and associations involved in providing sports and physical recreation goods and services; the people who work in sports and physical recreation occupations or industries; and the support provided by volunteers.

Some results for Queensland include:

• For the period 2005-06, two thirds (67%) of adults participated in sports and physical recreation, with little gender difference (males 68% and females 67%).
• More male children aged 5-14 years participated in organised sport than females, with 65% of males and 56% of females participating.
• Adult attendance at sports events was more common amongst males than females with 50% of males attending and 37% of females.
• Of Indigenous communities with 50 or more persons, Queensland had the highest proportion with sporting facilities. Only 7.7% of these communities (3 communities) did not have sporting facilities. In comparison, one third of all Australian Indigenous communities with 50 or more persons did not have sporting facilities. Of the 36 Queensland Indigenous communities with sporting facilities, 27 had sports grounds, 26 had outdoor basketball/netball courts, 17 had indoor or covered facilities and 7 had swimming pools.

MARRIAGES, AUSTRALIA, 2007

Marriages, Australia, 2007 (cat. no. 3306.0.55.001) was released 30 September 2008. Marriage statistics provide valuable information for the analysis of family formation in Australia. This electronic product presents data at the national and state level on registered marriages by age, previous martial status, country of birth, type of celebrant, number of children under 16 years of previous marriages and whether couples lived together prior to marriage. Crude and age-specific marriage rates are also provided.

Marriage statistics in this publication are presented by the state or territory where the marriage was registered, rather than the state of usual residence of the couple. For this reason, the ABS advises caution in the interpretation of data at a state or territory level as couples may choose to marry outside their state or territory of usual residence.

Some results for Queensland include:

• There were 25,808 marriages registered in 2007, an increase of 765 (3.1%) from 2006. This was the greatest increase of any state/territory.
• The median age of the groom was 31.8 years and of the bride 29.4 years.
• Marriages in which neither partner had been previously married made up 66% of all marriages, while a further 18% were first marriages for one party. The remaining marriages were remarriages for both partners.
• The trend towards civil ceremonies continued, with 69% of marriages performed by civil celebrants.
• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of marriages were of couples where both parties were born in Australia. A further 6.4% of marriages were of parties born in the same overseas country and 29% of marriages were of parties born in different countries.
• Of the 25,808 couples who registered a marriage in 2007, 84% indicated that they had lived together prior to marriage.

PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: POPULATION TURNOVER, 2006

Perspectives on Regional Australia: Population Turnover, 2006 (cat. no. 1380.0.55.005) was released 30 September 2008. This product shows population turnover by Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) across Australia between August 2001 and August 2006 utilising 2006 Census of Population and Housing data.

Migration is recognised as a key factor in regional social and economic development. Inter-regional migration impacts broadly on a range of issues such as the size and structure of inter-regional labour markets, the demand for services, and the human capital that contributes to community strength.

Population turnover is the combined number of people arriving and departing from an area (the Population flow), expressed as a percentage of the Census population count. Population turnover is different from population growth, which is the net change in population. It is quite possible, for example, for an area to have its population estimate remain virtually unchanged from one period to the next, but for many of its current residents to be different people than those who were residents in the previous period.

Population turnover is therefore of strong interest because it can help explain, for example, why the characteristics and needs of a region are changing significantly within the context of having a relatively stable population count.

Some results for Queensland include:

• The five SLAs with the greatest population turnover between August 2001 and August 2006 were all in urban areas. They were Rosslea (119%), Milton (116%), Vincent (115%), Spring Hill (114%) and Kelvin Grove (114%). Rosslea and Vincent recorded a decrease in the number of usual residents.
• The five SLAs with the lowest population turnover between August 2001 and August 2006 were Yarrabah (16%), Aurukun (18%), Kowanyama (19%), Palm Island (22%) and Mornington (23%).

RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESSES, AUSTRALIA, 2006-07

Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8104.0) was released 14 October 2008. This publication presents expenditure and human resources devoted to research and experimental development (R&D) carried out by businesses in Australia, classified by industry, type of expenditure, source of funds, type of employee, enterprise employment size, research field, socioeconomic objective and location of expenditure. Most data are expressed in current prices but key aggregates are also expressed in volume terms.

Some results for Queensland include:

• In 2006-07 business expenditure on research and development located in Queensland was $1,639.9 million, an increase of 24% from 2005-06.
• Queensland in 2006-07 accounted for 14% of national business expenditure on research and development.
• The largest contributors to Queensland business expenditure on research and development were Mining ($430.5 million or 26%), Professional, scientific and technical services ($407.8 million or 25%) and Manufacturing ($363.8 million or 22%).

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY, 2006-07

Australian Industry, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8155.0) was released 8 October 2008. This publication presents estimates of the economic and financial performance of Australian industry. The estimates are based on data collected in the ABS Economic Activity Survey for 2006-07, and Business Activity Statement data reported to the Australian Taxation Office. For most divisions of the Australian and New Zealand Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), estimates are presented for income, expenses, industry value added, operating profit before tax, selected components of these aggregates and derivations, capital expenditure, and numbers of operating businesses. State/territory estimates of sales and service income and wages and salaries are presented at the ANZSIC division level.

Some results for Queensland include:

• For total selected industries, Queensland contributed 19% of national wages and salaries and 20% of national sales and services income.
• The industries contributing the most to total Queensland selected industries wages and salaries were Manufacturing (14%) and Construction (12%).
• The highest contributors to Queensland's total selected industries sales and services income were Manufacturing (17%), Wholesale trade (15%) and Retail trade (14%).

AGRICULTURAL STATE PROFILE, QUEENSLAND, 2006-07

The Agricultural State Profile, Queensland, 2006-07 (cat. no. 7123.3.55.001) was released 19 September 2008. It provides an overview of the agricultural industry in Queensland and is ideal for school students' project work. It covers farm numbers, agricultural production and the state's agricultural contribution to the economy. It also includes mapped data, historical data from 1861 and data provided at the Statistical Division level.

The Queensland agricultural industry is still an important contributor to the state's economy and has maintained its role as a major export earner.

Some results for Queensland include:

• At 30 June 2007 there were 30,551 businesses undertaking agricultural activity in Queensland with an estimated value of agricultural operations of $5,000 or more.
• The majority of agricultural businesses were engaged in either beef cattle farming (47%) or sugar cane growing (12%).
• The contribution of agriculture to the Queensland economy can be measured in a number of ways. The most direct measurement available is the gross value of agricultural production, which in 2006-07 was $9.5 billion for Queensland.
• Another measure of the contribution of agriculture to the economy is gross farm product (GFP). In 2006-07, the GFP for Queensland was calculated to be $5.2 billion, or 2.8% of gross state product.

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.
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.