Charges

DataLab

DataLab and associated access and service charges for FY2025-26

Cite
Released
20/07/2022

DataLab access incurs an annual charge. This charge is based on the number of analysts with virtual machine access in a project.

The charge covers the typical annual costs of:  

  • project establishment and ongoing administration and support
  • researcher onboarding (including training and refresher training)
  • changes to analysts and discussants within a project
  • standard virtual machine access for analysts
  • standard software access for analysts (e.g. R, Python, Stata)
  • project storage up to one terabyte
  • standard output and input clearance.

The ABS is committed to supporting the DataLab service and subsidising DataLab users. We currently use a partial cost recovery arrangement with charges being set to allow the ABS to maintain its service levels as well as deliver critical system and infrastructure enhancements.   

Please note: 

  • Individual quotes will be prepared for projects with over 25 analysts.
  • An increase in the number of analysts to the next tier will incur an additional charge equivalent to the next tier.
  • Significant changes in project scope may result in the establishment of a new project.
  • Access to non-standard services are subject to additional charges, please see the non-standard access and services table below.
  • All charges are calculated quarterly, based on the month of request. For example, a project commencing in October will be charged the annual charge and any non-standard DataLab access charges based on three quarters of the financial year.
  • Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be applied to charges unless the organisation is exempt.

Annual DataLab Charges

As at 1 July 2025, GST exclusive
Annual Charge FY2025-26Excluding GST
Tier 1 projects: 1 to 5 Users$5,500
Tier 2 projects: 6 to 10 Users$13,200
Tier 3 projects: 11 to 25 Users$33,000
Tier 4 projects: Above 25 UsersCustom

Additional charges apply for customised data integration services.

Non-Standard Access and Services

Non-standard charges apply to all projects for services that are not within the scope of the annual charge.

  • Non-standard charges include access to SAS, Databricks, non-standard virtual machines and storage above one terabyte.
  • Non-standard charges for access to Databricks and non-standard virtual machines will be invoiced quarterly based on usage and as per the schedule below.
  • Non-standard charges also apply to increased service levels, such as priority clearance and high service level.
Non-Standard Access Charges
Quarterly charges per project

Non-standard virtual machines are charged quarterly.

Standard virtual machines are included in the annual charge and comprise machines up to and including the large size.

Please refer to virtual machines for further information on size.

Usage based charge set by Microsoft Azure - only the cost incurred by each project is charged quarterly.

Databricks is charged quarterly.

Please refer to Databricks for more information about this service.

Usage based charge set by Microsoft Azure - only the cost incurred by each project is charged quarterly.

QuarterMonthsQuote Issued
Qtr 1July to SeptemberCharge in October
Qtr 2October to DecemberCharge in January
Qtr 3January to MarchCharge in April
Qtr 4April to JuneCharge in July
Annual charges per projectExcluding GST

Use of SAS (per user)

Charge applicable per financial year. 

This charge is non-transferable and not pro-rated for the year for the user. 

$500

Each additional terabyte of storage per project.

(One terabyte of storage is included in the annual charge.)

$850

Non-Standard Service Charges
Annual charges per project - High output demand*Excluding GST

Tier 1

This charge is based on the number of output requests received by the Output clearance team. 

Tier 1 applies to projects with output requests that: 

  • regularly exceed 2 per month
  • regularly require turnaround of less than 48 hours, or
  • require informal ABS methodological or policy advice to facilitate output.
$20,900

Tier 2

This charge is based on the number of output requests received by the Output clearance team. 

Tier 2 applies to projects with output requests that: 

  • regularly exceed weekly occurrences
  • regularly require same day turnaround, or
  • require formal ABS methodological or legislative advice to facilitate output.
$45,100

*A high output demand charge applies to projects that require a higher level of service, including high volumes, faster turnaround or the application of special rules. This charge will be applied when the project team requests this higher level of service, or when the ABS determines that a project is requiring resources exceeding cost recovery of the annual charge. High output demand charges are structured into two separate tiers.

Annual charges per project - High service level**Excluding GST

This charge is levied on projects that have a high number of service requests.

The following will be a factor in considering the application of the high service level charge: 

  • frequent/regular meetings
  • frequent/complex queries
  • frequent/complex project changes
  • high volume of publications requiring review and custodian notifications
  • projects with a large range of research topics requiring access to a high volume of datasets and data integration work  
  • projects with custom requirements
  • projects with compressed timelines and critical milestones which prompt out-of-session arrangements and prioritisation within the ABS work program
  • projects with multiple phases with varied needs requiring staged custodian approvals, additional approvals such as non-DataLab approvals, and increased effort to monitor project status and progress
  • projects with non-s15 access, for example, s14 or s16, requiring additional arrangements
  • projects merging or splitting, thus requiring re-approvals and revised arrangements with data custodians and within DataLab.
$22,000  

**A high service level charge applies to projects that require resources exceeding the cost recovery of the annual charge. This charge will be applied when the project team requests this higher level of service, or when the ABS determines that a project is requiring resources exceeds the cost recovery of the annual charge.

University Projects

For projects and data services covered by the current ABS/Universities Australia Agreement, students, staff and researchers are not individually invoiced for their use of the charged ABS data services. 

For more information refer to the ABS/Universities Australia Agreement.

University projects that choose to progress their access requests outside of the ABS/Universities Australia Agreement will be subject to access charges as outlined above.

ABS International Merchandise Trade (IMT) Statistics

ABS International Merchandise Trade (IMT) statistics are subject to additional disclosure controls and consistency checks with published ABS data when releasing IMT data from the DataLab. 

These additional activities incur additional costs. Projects requiring access to IMT data are subject to the following charges:

  • $500 (GST exclusive) – per project requesting access to merchandise imports or exports data.
  • $250 (GST exclusive) – per IMT output request submitted.

Access Outside Australia

Access to the DataLab from outside Australia is open for applications from 1 July 2025. There are additional charges associated with project and researcher applications to access DataLab from outside Australia. This includes domestic researchers seeking to access DataLab while travelling outside Australia, and international researchers seeking to access DataLab for a new project.

These charges are in addition to the annual DataLab charges and cover costs for the ABS to administer access to DataLab from outside Australia while upholding high standards of security and service delivery.

DescriptionExcluding GST
Review charge (per researcher)$1,600
Annual charge top-up$1,900
Establishment charge (per project)$4,100
Legal charge (per organisation, if required)$7,600